BEREA ― Week 7 just might be lucky for the Browns on at least one front. It may be when they're getting closer to being full strength.
The return of defensive tackle Mason Graham (knee, ankle) for the Oct. 25 game at the Tennessee Titans would provide a major shot in the arm to Cleveland's defensive line and pass rush. Meanwhile, getting running backs Quinshon Judkins (ankle) and Dylan Sampson (knee), their top two backs coming into the season, would provide a chance to get the run game finally going.
Those are just the three injured players whose return coach Todd Monken seemed to indicate were likely against the Titans. There's also the potential that safety Grant Delpit, who spent the week in concussion protocol after leaving the Week 6 win over the Baltimore Ravens, might be able to play in Nashville.
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The Browns hold their final full practice of game week Oct. 23 at 11:30 a.m. They will announce injury designations for the game after practice, around 1:30 p.m.
Quincy Williams' neck injury one to monitor ahead of Titans game
The one injury that will be monitored is linebacker Quincy Williams. The veteran, who had been playing his best of the season the last couple of weeks, missed practice Oct. 22 with a neck injury.
The severity of the issue, which he arrived at the facility with that morning, was never disclosed by the team. However, Williams was seen in the locker room during the period open to the media prior to practice.
Mike Hall Jr. remains sidelined with ankle injury from Steelers game
The other three Browns players who have missed practice all week ― defensive tackles Mike Hall Jr. (ankle) and Kalia Davis (quad), as well as guard Teven Jenkins (back) ― are not expected back this week. The team does have a decision to make on both Davis and quarterback Dillon Gabriel (back) as their 21-day window to return from injured reserve comes to an end Oct. 27.
The Browns would have to make a move when Sampson is finally activated from the injured reserve list prior to departing for Tennessee. The second-year pro out of the University of Tennessee sustained a knee injury in the opener at the Jacksonvlle Jaguars on his second kickoff return.
Jenkins, who's been sidelined since Sept. 9 with the back injury, could be a candidate for injured reserve if the Browns wanted to go that route to free up a spot on the active roster.
Can Mason Graham pick up where he left off when he returns?
Graham was off to a red-hot start to his second season when he sustained the sprained medial collateral ligament and sprained ankle with 7:41 remaining in the first quarter of the Week 4 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. He had recorded four sacks over the first three games of the season, the first Browns player to have at least one sack in each of the first three games since Myles Garrett in 2019.
The former No. 5 overall pick in 2025 likely back means it creates the potential for one of the best interior pass-rush duos with defensive tackle Maliek Collins having recorded 3.5 sacks over the three games Graham missed. Adin Huntington, another defensive tackle, picking up 1.5 sacks in his absence as well.
Can Quinshon Judkins, Dylan Sampson get run game going?
Judkins and Sampson coming back would, in theory, be a shot in the arm for the Browns' running game. The problem has been that, at least with Judkins, it had struggled even before he sustained the Week 5 ankle injury against the New York Jets.
Over the first five games, Judkins had rushed for a team-high 220 yards, but on 73 carries. That came out to a yards-per-carry average of three yards, 1.4 yards per carry behind what quarterback Deshaun Watson averages.
The Browns' rushing offense ranks 24th in the league at 94 yards per game. Judkins is averaging 44 yards per game.
Sampson did not get a carry in the opener before suffering the injury. However, he did average 32 yards on two kickoff returns.
Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ. Sign up for Browns Insider newsletter at https://profile.beaconjournal.com/newsletters/browns-insider/
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Will Browns have Mason Graham, Quinshon Judkins at Titans? What we know
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