BEREA ― Quinshon Judkins’ month of August in 2025 was tied up with more important things than football.
The Browns running back was involved in defending himself from a domestic violence charge stemming from a July arrest. The Florida State Attorney’s Office dropped the charges against him in mid-August, but he didn’t sign his contract in order to start practicing until the day before the regular season started in September.
Even after missing training camp and the season opener, Judkins rushed for 827 yards over the next 14 games. However, that 14th game was cut short right before halftime when he sustained a fractured fibula and a dislocated ankle that ended his rookie season.
Subscribe to Browns Insider newsletter
However, Judkins was able to get back on the field in plenty of time for the OTAs and minicamp in the spring. That allowed him the opportunity to finally participate in an NFL training camp for the first time.
“I feel like for me, it’s very fortunate,” Judkins said before the Browns’ training camp practice Aug. 11. “I’m super grateful just to be in a position where I can actually learn and take it day by day and actually put the time and effort into correcting my mistakes, whereas in-game you can’t afford to make those mistakes.
“So actually having the time to learn from Coach [Todd] Monken and learn from [offensive coordinator] Travis [Switzer] and [running backs] Coach Duce [Staley] and people that want to see all the young guys that we do have on this team go out there and excel to the highest level we can.”
This was right before the 11th practice of training camp for the Browns. That meant it was right before Judkins’ 11th training camp practice as a professional, even if he’s going into his second season.
Although the Browns may have a relatively young roster, everyone on that roster except for the rookies have, for the most part, gone through a training camp before. That means they understand the relative pace of the five-and-a-half-week ramp-up to the season and how to ride the ebbs and flows.
Judkins acknowledged that’s something he’s had to mentally and physically prepare himself for this time.
“I think as a young guy, too, you really have to understand that,” Judkins said. “Just because when you’re fresh, you’re first coming into the league, you got vets and different guys, they give you a lot of advice. Because as a hard worker like myself, I do want to go out there and put the best work I can in day in and day out, but you do have to be smart.
“And that’s one thing I will say, our vets have taught a lot of our young guys, be smart in the way you prep your body and how to have longevity through the season.”
That will eventually be the next hurdle for Judkins to clear. He missed three-and-a-half games of the Browns’ 5-12 season, meaning he’ll be looking to play in his first 17-game season.
This is where Judkins’ college experience comes into play. After transferring from Ole Miss to Ohio State for his final season in 2024, he was part of the Buckeyes’ national championship team, playing in all 16 games.
Judkins carried the ball 230 times as a rookie, which is still 44 times fewer than the career-high 274 times he carried it as a freshman at Ole Miss. It’s why he’s confident in his routine for preventing the grind to drag him down.
“I think as a rookie, a lot of rookies hit walls just because of the longevity of the season,” Judkins said. “Luckily for me at Ohio State, I played a season that long, but I think for normal college kids, you don’t play that many games. So every rookie hits a wall throughout the season. It’s just win. So I think for me, it was just trying to maintain the same routine I had, do everything the same way.”
Judkins is expected to be a prominent piece of Monken’s offense this season, if for no other reason than to take some of the pressure off whoever ends up winning the quarterback competition between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders. A year ago, despite the missed time at the lead-up to the season, he was still leading all rookies in rushing at the time of his injury.
Buy Cleveland Browns tickets
The 59.1 yards per game Judkins was averaging at the time of the injury would have given him a 17-game output of 1,004 yards. Although clearing 1,000 yards is something he’s aiming for this season, his goals aren’t wrapped up in a specific number.
“For me, it’s always been the same thing — just be the best that I can be,” Judkins said. “I don’t try to put pressure on myself by saying I want to do certain specific things. It’s just really going out there to compete, taking it one day at a time and go out there and accomplish my team goals, too.”
Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ. Sign up for Browns Insider newsletter at https://profile.beaconjournal.com/newsletters/browns-insider/
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Quinshon Judkins feels ‘fortunate’ to finally experience Browns training camp
Reporting by Chris Easterling, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Chris Easterling, Akron Beacon Journal | USA TODAY Network
