The Cleveland Browns' 2025 rookie class may have done more than just inject fresh talent into the roster - it might’ve bought GM Andrew Berry a little more time in the front office. While head coach Kevin Stefanski wasn’t as fortunate after back-to-back losing seasons, Berry’s bold draft strategy, including taking two quarterbacks and two running backs, turned heads around the league. And among the new faces, one name stood out early: Quinshon Judkins.
The former Ohio State standout came into the league with high expectations, and for good reason. He brought a physical, downhill running style that seemed tailor-made for the AFC North.
While his rookie campaign didn’t feature a ton of highlight-reel games, he still showed flashes of the kind of back he could become. His best outing came in Week 5 against the Vikings, where he rushed for 110 yards in a narrow 21-17 loss - his only 100-yard game of the season.
But the momentum came to a screeching halt late in the year. In Week 16 against Buffalo, Judkins suffered a gruesome injury - a dislocated ankle and fractured fibula - that ended his season on the spot.
Surgery followed on December 23rd, and by all accounts, it was successful. The initial recovery timeline was estimated at 4-6 months, which put his potential return somewhere around June.
Here’s where things get murky.
Fast forward to early February, and reports have surfaced that Judkins is still wearing a heavy walking boot. That’s not the kind of update Browns fans were hoping for.
On ESPN Cleveland’s “The Tony Rizzo Show,” Rizzo mentioned that a source recently spotted Judkins still in the boot - and not just a light brace, but a heavy one. That’s a red flag for a player whose position demands explosive cuts, quick lateral movement, and full lower-body stability.
Running backs don’t just need to run - they need to plant, pivot, and burst. And if Judkins isn’t even weight-bearing without assistance yet, it raises real questions about his availability for training camp and, more pressingly, Week 1.
That’s a problem for new head coach Todd Monken, who brings in a power-spread offensive system that leans heavily on a reliable, every-down back. Judkins was expected to be that guy.
Now? His status is in doubt.
Behind him on the depth chart is fellow rookie Dylan Sampson, who had a decorated college career and was named the SEC Offensive Player of the Year. Sampson saw limited action in 2025 - just 65 carries for 175 yards in 15 games - and didn’t find the end zone. Raheim Sanders is also in the mix, while veterans Jerome Ford and Trayveon Williams are both free agents.
The Browns’ running backs room is not only thin on experience but also currently without a position coach. That’s another layer of uncertainty for a team that wants to establish a physical identity on offense under Monken.
And then there’s the looming question: Could Nick Chubb make a return to Cleveland?
Chubb, a franchise icon and fan favorite, is a free agent after spending 2025 with the Houston Texans. He played in 15 games, started nine, and logged 506 yards and three touchdowns on 122 carries. While he’s not the same back he was in his prime, there’s a scenario where a one-year “prove-it” deal makes sense - especially if Judkins isn’t ready to go.
For now, the Browns are in a bit of a holding pattern. Judkins’ health is the key domino.
If he can get back on the field by summer and start ramping up football activities, there’s still hope he can be the feature back in Monken’s system. But if the boot lingers into spring, Cleveland may have to pivot - fast.
Whether that means leaning more on Sampson, giving Sanders a bigger workload, or making a call to Chubb’s agent, the Browns’ backfield picture is far from settled. And with a new coaching staff, an evolving offense, and a fanbase hungry for relevance, the clock is ticking.