Despite the disappointment of starting the campaign with an 0-2 record, the Cleveland Browns were able to rely for the first time on a player they hope will solve their rushing attack issues, though not without navigating a lengthy process that finally allowed him to debut in the NFL.
This player is Quinshon Judkins, a running back who shone during his college football career and comes off a national championship with the Ohio State Buckeyes.
A highly anticipated debut, a painful loss for the Browns
Judkins joined the team through the NFL Draft after being selected with the 36th overall pick. The 21-year-old running back missed the entire training camp and preseason games while resolving legal issues stemming from an arrest for domestic violence this summer.
Florida state prosecutors decided not to pursue the minor charges against the player, though he is currently under investigation by the NFL for the alleged incident.
Against this backdrop, the opportunity finally came to see him take his first snaps, especially after the Browns struggled to run the ball in Week 1, managing just 49 rushing yards.
Against the Baltimore Ravens, Quinshon Judkins ran for 61 yards on 10 carries in a game the Browns lost 41-17. The good news, at first glance, is that the former Ohio State star outgained all of the team’s running backs from Week 1; the bad news is the team’s 0-2 record.
Judkins established himself as a star over two seasons at Ole Miss before transferring to Ohio State, where he was a key piece in securing a national championship with the Buckeyes. Despite sharing the backfield with TreyVeon Henderson, his impact in Columbus was immediate, leading the Browns to select him in the top 50 of the Draft and project him as a cornerstone of their offense from the outset.
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