Quinshon Judkins’ incredible stat despite only 13 touches, as Browns consider feature back options

Judkins is among the league leaders in forcing missed tackles despite only touching the football 13 times

There has been a lot of conversation about who the Cleveland Browns’ lead running back was going to be throughout the offseason.

The franchise had moved on from veteran Nick Chubb, retained Jerome Ford, and then selected both Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson in the 2025 NFL draft.

Fans wondered if one of the two rookies would take over from Ford as the lead running back, or whether Kevin Stefanski and the coaching staff would instead opt for a running back by committee approach.

On Sunday, many believe the answer was clear.

Quinshon Judkins did not feature in Week 1, but he was on the field for the Browns’ loss to the Baltimore Ravens,and looked like a real difference maker when he touched the football.

Judkins took 10 carries for 61 rushing yards, while Jerome Ford had six carries for 31, and Dylan Sampson had just four carries for a total of six yards.

The rookie second-round pick was excellent in his debut, and this week a stunning stat surfaced after his performance.

In just 13 touches, (10 rushes and three receptions), Quinshon Judkins forced five missed tackles.

According to Sleeper, that puts him in the top ten for missed tackles forced so far this season, despite only playing one game, and only getting 10 carries in that performance against the Ravens.

When asked about Judkins’ usage this week, and whether he would become the feature back for the Browns, Kevin Stefanski said:

“Want to continue to bring him along from a conditioning standpoint and understanding the nuances of the scheme.”

The rookie is behind fellow draft pick Dylan Sampson in mental reps and obviously has a lot less experience in the league than Jerome Ford. However, once he’s up to speed, it does seem like the Browns are keen on leaning on him as their starting back.

Judkins is listed as RB1 on Browns unofficial depth chart as Week 3 approaches

The Cleveland Browns will face the Green Bay Packers in Week 3, in what will be another difficult test for their roster.

The Packers have shut down both the Detroit Lions and the Washington Commanders‘ explosive offenses so far this season, and are being considered one of the top Super Bowl contenders after the first two weeks of the year.

Quinshon Judkins may be handed a heavier workload this week, after spending another full week in the film room and with the coaching staff. He is listed as RB1 on the depth chart, and the Browns will need to get him going if they want to compete with the Packers this Sunday.

Green Bay is an 8-point favorite for the game in Cleveland, and the majority of analysts are currently riding with the Packers.