The Cleveland Browns answered one of their most burning questions ahead of the 2025 NFL season when they signed Quinshon Judkins to his rookie deal days ahead of their Week 1 game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Judkins was unable to suit up for the Browns in the team’s 17-16 loss to the Bengals, but the team is likely hoping to get the second-round rookie on the field soon.
Could Judkins play in Week 2? Here are the latest updates about the Ohio State product’s status and what to expect from him if he can suit up against the Baltimore Ravens.
Will Quinshon Judkins play Week 2?
The Browns haven’t yet clarified whether they are planning for Judkins to play in NFL Week 2.
However, Judkins was listed as a full participant in Thursday’s practice on Cleveland’s official injury report. That could put the second-round rookie on track to make his team debut in the Browns’ Week 2 game against the Baltimore Ravens.
Judkins’ return came just a day after he missed Wednesday’s practice to meet with the NFL about his offseason arrest for a misdemeanor battery charge. The rookie’s absence prompted Browns coach Kevin Stefanski to acknowledge Cleveland would assess his potential Week 2 availability on a “day by day” basis.
“He’s not here today, not practicing today, so I’ll really take that day by day,” Stefanski said, per Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal. “He’s not here today.”
Still, Stefanski said Judkins looked “good” physically earlier in the week, opening the door for the Ohio State product to potentially get on the field.
It isn’t clear what type of workload Judkins might be ready and able to handle out of the chute. He missed all of Browns training camp and the preseason, so it may take him a few games to be able to earn a sizable share of Cleveland’s running back snaps.
Quinshon Judkins suspension update
Of course, there’s also the looming possibility of Judkins being suspended by the NFL under the league’s personal conduct policy.
Judkins missed Wednesday’s practice while meeting with the NFL about a misdemeanor battery charge that led to his arrest in Broward County, Fla. in mid-July, per the Akron Beacon Journal. Broward County declined to formally charge the 21-year-old as a result of the arrest, but the NFL could still discipline him.
No timetable has been established for the NFL to reach a verdict in Judkins’ case. As such, he could still be allowed to play in Week 2, even if the league suspends him at a later date.
Browns RB depth chart
Judkins is presently listed in a tie for No. 3 overall on Cleveland’s running back depth with fellow rookie Raheim “Rocket” Sanders. Below is a look at the pecking order in the Browns backfield.
- Jerome Ford
- Dylan Sampson
- Quinshon Judkins
- Raheim Sanders
- Ahmani Marshall (practice squad)
While Judkins is presently listed near the back-end of Cleveland’s depth chart, he should have a chance to rapidly rise. He was selected two rounds ahead of fellow rookie Sampson while Ford, the team’s veteran starter, had just eight yards on six carries (1.25 yards per carry) in the team’s season-opening loss to the Bengals.
Quinshon Judkins fantasy outlook Week 2
Given the uncertainty surrounding Judkins’ potential usage, it may be smart to sit him in Week 2 even if he’s active.
After all, the Ravens have a strong run defense that just limited the Buffalo Bills to 3.5 yards per carry in Week 1. They could have similar success against a Browns offense that averaged an even 2 yards per carry against the Bengals.
Of course, the Ravens also surrendered three rushing touchdowns, so it remains possible Judkins (5-11, 221 pounds) can power his way into the end-zone. That could make him a speculative flex play for a team light on running back depth.
But for the most part, fantasy managers should continue to take a wait-and-see approach with Judkins.
