Browns Rookie RB Quinshon Judkins Out for Season After Gruesome Leg Injury vs. Bills
The Cleveland Browns were dealt a brutal blow Sunday when standout rookie running back Quinshon Judkins was carted off the field just before halftime in their 23-20 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed after the game that Judkins suffered a fractured fibula and a dislocated ankle - a devastating combination that ends his rookie campaign prematurely.
The injury occurred on a short pass play out of the backfield. As Judkins turned to make the catch, Bills linebacker Matt Milano closed in low, delivering a hit that immediately left Judkins in visible pain. The CBS broadcast opted not to show a replay of the injury - a decision that usually signals just how serious it looked in real time.
Before going down, Judkins had been one of the few bright spots in Cleveland’s offense this season. Taken with the 36th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft out of Ohio State, he had already carved out a significant role in the Browns’ backfield. Against the Bills, he logged eight carries for 22 yards and added five receptions for a team-high 29 receiving yards - a testament to his versatility and growing comfort in the passing game.
Coming into Sunday, Judkins led the Browns in rushing with 805 yards and seven touchdowns across 13 games. That kind of production from a rookie tells you everything you need to know about how vital he was to Cleveland’s offense. He wasn’t just a complementary piece - he was their go-to back, and losing him at this point in the season is a gut punch for a team trying to stay in the playoff hunt.
With Judkins sidelined, the Browns turned to Raheim Sanders and Trayveon Williams to pick up the slack - and both backs stepped up in a big way. Sanders handled the bulk of the carries, rushing 11 times for 42 hard-earned yards, while Williams made his presence felt in both the ground and passing game.
He rushed three times for 17 yards and led all Cleveland receivers with four catches for 38 yards. It wasn’t enough to secure the win, but it was a glimpse of how the Browns might try to patch things together moving forward.
Still, there’s no sugarcoating the loss of Judkins. He brought a physical edge and burst to the offense that’s tough to replicate.
For a rookie, his vision, patience, and ability to absorb contact were already drawing praise around the league. His injury not only ends a promising first season but also forces Cleveland to adjust on the fly at a critical point in the year.
Now the Browns must regroup - emotionally and schematically - as they look to finish strong without one of their most dynamic offensive weapons.