Browns insider provides optimistic update on Cleveland RB Quinshon Judkins with door possibly open to play against the Bengals
Cleveland could be close to getting their key rookie back.
Game week is officially here for the Cleveland Browns, who will kick off their season by hosting AFC North rival Cincinnati Bengals in Week 1.
Coming off a 3-14 campaign, the Browns are hoping to take a step forward offensively while regaining their edge on defense. Joe Flacco will start at quarterback, with the backfield likely featuring a split between Jerome Ford and Dylan Sampson.
Cleveland could also be getting closer to finally having rookie running back Quinshon Judkins back on the field. Judkins remains the only player from the 2025 draft class yet to sign his rookie contract.
Browns insider believes Quinshon Judkins could soon rejoin the team
Judkins has been away from the Browns since before training camp, when he was arrested in Florida on a domestic violence charge. That charge has since been no-billed, but contract talks haven’t picked up, and the former Ohio State Buckeyes star has yet to report. That could change soon.
“I believe Judkins will be back with the Browns soon, possibly even sometime this week as they prepare for the Bengals,” Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot said recently. “If he makes it back early enough in the week, he could possibly contribute some in the opener.”
Judkins is still under investigation by the NFL for a potential violation of the personal conduct policy. Even without criminal charges, the league could choose to suspend him. Just last year, defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. served a multi-game suspension despite having a domestic violence charge against him dropped.
The Browns drafted Judkins 36th overall to be their primary back of the future, pairing him with Sampson to anchor the running game. Getting him under contract is the first step, followed by an evaluation of whether he’ll be ready to contribute against the Bengals on Sunday. The door isn’t closed on Judkins playing in Week 1, but with each day that passes without a signed contract, his availability becomes less likely. Still, signs point to him rejoining the team soon, one way or another.
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