The Browns’ surprising climb atop the AFC North got a little more encouraging on Saturday.
Cleveland, sitting at 4-2 heading into Week 7 of the 2026 NFL season, is already in a spot few expected. And now the Browns are set to welcome back two important pieces for Sunday’s game against the Tennessee Titans: running back Dylan Sampson and safety Grant Delpit.
According to Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot, Sampson has been activated from injured reserve and will play against Tennessee, while Delpit has cleared the concussion protocol and is expected to suit up. Cabot also reported, “Browns have activated RB Dylan Sampson from IR and he'll face the Titans; S Grant Delpit cleared the concussion protocol and is expected to play. Teven Jenkins (back) on IR,”
That gives Cleveland a noticeable lift as it tries to move to 5-2 against a Titans team that is 1-5 but coming off its first win of the season.
Sampson’s return matters because it gives the Browns back a pass-catching, change-of-pace option in the backfield. And with Quinshon Judkins also good to go after missing Week 6 with an injury, Cleveland suddenly has a healthy running back room at exactly the right time.
The Delpit news may be just as important. He’s one of the Browns’ top defenders, and getting him back after the concussion concern from Week 6 gives the secondary a major boost.
Now Cleveland heads into Sunday with momentum, more health, and a chance to keep the top spot in the AFC North before turning to Week 8 and a matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
In Other News...
Titans Rework Alontae Taylor After Benching Him For A Bigger Need
Alontae Taylors path back into the Titans defensive mix has taken on a different shape this week, with Robert Saleh testing him in slot corner rotations during practice after he was a healthy scratch in a recent game. The move reflects a practical adjustment as Tennessee keeps sorting through the best way to use Taylors skill set, and it comes after the defense held up well without him in the lineup.
Saleh has been encouraged by Taylors effort in working toward the nickel role and by the way he responded to the benching. The coaching staff is now looking at whether that versatility can help stabilize the secondary, a consideration that makes Taylors next opportunity feel a little more open-ended than it did just a few days ago. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Quietly Signal Concern About Their Offense Before Browns Game
The Titans made a quiet but notable move ahead of their Week 7 matchup with the Browns, elevating running back Kelel Mullings and wide receiver K.J. Osborn from the practice squad. Those additions give Tennessee some added insurance on offense, where a few key players are already on the injury report and the team is clearly bracing for more than a routine Sunday at Nissan Stadium.
Tyjae Spears is among the offensive names listed as questionable, along with Calvin Ridley, which helps explain why Tennessee moved early to bolster the depth chart. With Cleveland coming to town and CBS carrying the game, the Titans will at least have extra options available if those status questions carry over into kickoff. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Win Changed Nothing About One Tough Deadline Decision
The Titans finally got into the win column, but one victory has not changed the bigger picture as the trade deadline draws near. At 1-5, Tennessee is still looking at a steep climb to stay relevant in the playoff race, and the franchise has to weigh whether this season is about squeezing out a few more wins or continuing to stockpile assets for the future.
That puts some of the rosters most recognizable names in a difficult spotlight. Jeffery Simmons, Amani Hooker, Tony Pollard and Alonte Taylor all profile as players who could draw interest if the Titans decide draft capital matters more than holding the current group together, and their value only becomes more complicated because of where they stand contractually. For a team in the middle of a rebuild, the next move may say a lot more about the long term than the result of last Sunday did. [Read more 🡒]