The Browns came into Sunday’s matchup against the Bills with two very different agendas on the table. Buffalo, fresh off a dramatic comeback win over the Patriots in Week 15, is locked in on the playoff picture and chasing the AFC East crown. Cleveland, meanwhile, entered the game at 3-11, looking more toward the future than the postseason - a team evaluating young talent and hoping to find building blocks for 2026.
Early on, though, the Browns showed some fight.
Rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders opened the game with a poised, well-executed touchdown drive that had Browns fans leaning in. Sanders looked comfortable in the pocket, showing flashes of why the organization is investing in his development.
But Buffalo didn’t flinch. The Bills answered quickly, settling in and eventually taking control of the game as the first half wore on.
Then came the moment that changed everything for Cleveland - and not in the way anyone wanted.
Just before the two-minute warning in the second quarter, the Browns had the ball again and dialed up a swing pass to rookie running back Quinshon Judkins. It looked like a routine play - a quick toss into the flat, trying to get Judkins in space.
But Buffalo’s defense read it well. Judkins was hit almost immediately several yards behind the line of scrimmage and taken down awkwardly.
The kind of hit that makes you hold your breath.
Replays showed Judkins’ leg twisting unnaturally as he went to the ground. He stayed down, clearly in pain.
Quinshon Judkins is down and in some discomfort pic.twitter.com/RyosNvWNXy
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) December 21, 2025
Within moments, the cart was on the field. You never want to see that - especially not for a young player who’s been one of the few bright spots in a tough season.
The Browns quickly ruled Judkins out with a leg injury, and after the game, reports confirmed the worst: a broken leg, with additional evaluation underway for a potential knee injury. A brutal blow for the 22-year-old, who had been carving out a promising rookie campaign.
Judkins, a second-round pick out of Ohio State, had been showing real signs of becoming a long-term answer in Cleveland’s backfield. In just seven games, he’d racked up 486 rushing yards and five touchdowns - numbers that speak to both his talent and his role in the offense. He runs with power, vision, and a burst that had Browns fans excited about the future.
Now, that future is on pause.
Cleveland ultimately fell to Buffalo, 23-20, in a game that was competitive but overshadowed by Judkins’ injury. For a franchise looking to build something sustainable, losing a key young piece like this stings more than the final score.
The Browns will now turn their focus toward finishing out the season while keeping a close eye on Judkins’ recovery. If there’s any silver lining, it’s that he’s already proven he belongs at this level. The hope now is that he gets the chance to pick up right where he left off - stronger, smarter, and ready to lead the next chapter in Cleveland’s rebuild.