The Cleveland Browns‘ unofficial Week 3 depth chart has rookie running back Quinshon Judkins slotted in as the top player at his position, which should potentially worry some of the team’s upcoming opponents.
“He’s showing up last week and he’s trying to pick up as much as he can, and your head has to be spinning a little bit,” Browns QB Joe Flacco said Wednesday, September 17. “So the exciting thing this week is that he’s going to get to sit in every single meeting, go out and do walkthroughs … go out and practice, get the reps. I think he’s got a lot of talent, so that’s what’s exciting for us, is just to get an explosive guy some touches and see what he can do with it.”
Flacco added he expects Judkins can wear down opposing defenses and create explosive plays as games develop.
“When it comes to him changing the game a little bit, it’s kind of up to all 11 of us to kind of get that going. It’s not just him,” Flacco continued. “I think if we can play the kind of football that we want to, and we can get him in space … that’s when we’re going to get to see what he can do. I think he’s also going to be good at taking the two- [and] three-yard runs when that’s all that’s there and wearing on a defense. And I do think he has the ability to kind of be a game-breaker. But I think those plays, those game-breaker plays, it’s going to be all 11 of us working together.”
Quinshon Judkins Got Most Work of Any Browns RB Against Ravens
Judkins missed Week 1 after inking his rookie contract just one day prior to the Browns’ season-opener.
The issue getting him in camp stemmed from a misdemeanor domestic violence charge in July that a Florida court dismissed in August. However, the NFL was mulling a punishment for Judkins due to a violation of the league’s player conduct policy.
Judkins met with the league office last week and ended up playing for Cleveland Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens. And while Judkins wasn’t overwhelming, he showed promise while also earning the most touches of any back on the roster.
He led the way with 10 carries for 61 yards (6.1 yards per attempt), all of which were team highs. Judkins also caught three passes (10 receiving yards), as did fellow rookie RB Dylan Sampson. Fourth-year back Jerome Ford led the group with five catches. Ford garnered six carries, while Sampson tallied four.
Kevin Stefanski Gives Quinshon Judkins Vote of Confidence Ahead of Packers Game
Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski also spoke to media members Wednesday. And while he did not confirm that Judkins will unquestionably be the No. 1 option against the Green Bay Packers, Stefanski was complimentary of the rookie’s work.
“He did great,” Stefanski said. “Yeah, he’s doing better. Want to continue to bring him along … from a conditioning standpoint, understanding all the nuances of the scheme. So, that will only grow each week.”
Cleveland must establish the run early if it hopes to manage a Green Bay defense that has a scary pass rush led by superstar Micah Parsons. As such, the Browns will likely tone down the emphasis on the pass after Flacco attempted 45 throws in each of the season’s first two contests, and focus more on ball control and keeping the Packers defense on its heels.
That, plus Judkins’ workload in Week 2, indicate he will likely lead the ground game for the Browns Sunday.
