The Cleveland Browns have not enjoyed much success this season when it comes to winning football games, but their rookie class continues to make headlines.
Defensive tackle Mason Graham, the club’s first-round selection, has shown nice progress as he continues to grow into his role. Linebacker Carson Schwesinger is a frontrunner for Defensive Rookie of the Year honors, running back Quinshon Judkins leads rookies in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns, and tight end Harold Fannin Jr. keeps adding
yards after the catch.
Then there is quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who made his starting debut a winning one on Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders.
With the spotlight shining so brightly on several of his fellow rookies, running back Dylan Sampson has felt a bit like an afterthought through the first 10 games of the season.
After getting 20 touches and picking up 93 combined yards of offense in the season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sampson only had the occasional rushing attempt or pass reception in the ensuing nine games.
But that all changed against the Raiders, as Sampson made the most of his opportunities by turning a short pass from Sanders into a 66-yard touchdown scamper in the fourth quarter to help seal Cleveland’s 24-10 victory.
Sampson’s highlight play, the longest reception by a Cleveland player this season, coupled with a 26-yard run in the fourth quarter, has him as a nominee for the NFL’s Rookie of the Week award for Week 12.
While the other rookies have been getting the headlines, Sampson has stayed focused on improving each week and waiting to make the most of his opportunities, as he said on Monday:
“It’s kind of been a long road since that game, and I just keep my head down and figure out ways that I can improve, and there’s a lot of improvement I can do in my game right now, but I want to be the best that I can be each and every day for this team.”
Sunday’s game may have also been a preview of what Judkins and Sampson can do for the offense, according to Sampson:
“I think the sky is the limit, just with the way both of us play. I think we both play hard. I think we both have unique things that we both could bring to this offense and to this league. What it could be, I think in terms of just the staple that some of the other teams have now, like teams in Detroit or what the Saints used to have, I believe it can be that, and I’m going to work for it to be that every single day.”
Sampson’s competition for the award includes Tennessee Titans quarterback Cam Ward, Las Vegas running back Ashton Jeanty, Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Barrett Carter, New York Giants defensive tackle Darius Alexander, and Houston Texans safety Jaylen Reed.
Fan voting is open until Thursday at 11 a.m. at NFL.com.
