Upcoming opponent poaches former Saints RB Audric Estime from Vikings

Audric Estime is on the move. The former New Orleans Saints running back landed with the Minnesota Vikings practice squad after the Saints released him with an injury settlement, but NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports that Estime is already leaving the Vikings. He’s being signed to the Cleveland Browns 53-man roster in a promotion. Quinshon Judkins is dealing with a minor ankle injury so the Browns need more depth in the backfield. For now, Estime is in the mix for carries with Raheim Sanders and Jaleel McLaughlin.

And he could be on the field when the Saints host the Browns in November. When they poach a player from another practice squad, NFL teams must roster them for at least three weeks, meaning Estime will be on Cleveland’s 53-man roster for Weeks 6, 7, and 8. That lines up with the Saints’ return to the Caesars Superdome after two road games and their bye week.

Estime led the Saints in rushing during their three-game preseason, and he was one of the team’s bright spots late in the 2025 season. His 32-yard touchdown run against the Tennessee Titans was the longest rush by a Saints running back in years. But the team felt confident enough in their depth to try to stash him on injured reserve, only to let him go a few weeks later. With Travis Etienne Jr. out with an injury and a lifeless run game unable to prop up Tyler Shough and the Saints passing attack, that decision has come back to haunt them.

This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Upcoming opponent poaches former Saints RB Audric Estime from Vikings