Rookie RB Quinshon Judkins' injury worsens Browns' offensive woes

Cleveland Browns running back Quinshon Judkins. Scott Galvin-Imagn Images

Browns rookie RB Quinshon Judkins' gruesome injury worsens Browns' offensive woes

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Dec 21, 2025 5:29 PM ET

The Cleveland Browns' erratic offense took another hit on Sunday.

Late in the second quarter of Cleveland's home game against the Buffalo Bills , rookie running back Quinshon Judkins suffered a right leg injury after being tackled on a swing pass from rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders.

Judkins then exited the game on the cart with an Aircast on his injured leg. The Browns immediately ruled him out.

The severity of the injury remains unknown. However, these injuries can often be season-ending. If Judkins is out for the rest of the year, that would spoil a promising rookie season.

A right lower leg injury for Quinshon Judkins pic.twitter.com/11Bvv90u0D
— NFL on CBS (@NFLonCBS) December 21, 2025

How injury to Quinshon Judkins impacts the Browns offense

The Browns took Judkins with pick No. 36 in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft. He and New England Patriots RB TreVeyon Henderson, his teammate at Ohio State, looked like the top backs in the class. Entering Sunday, Judkins led rookies in rushing yards (805), while Henderson ranked second (773), per StatMuse.

Judkins emerging as a workhorse back for the Browns was critical, especially after they let RB Nick Chubb (now with the Houston Texans) walk in free agency. Chubb made four Pro Bowls in seven seasons with Cleveland, but he slowed after suffering a season-ending knee injury in 2023.

"Judkins continues to establish himself as one of the most exciting high-upside backs in the league," wrote The Draft Network's Justin Melo in a story published on Oct. 20. "The future is incredibly bright for Judkins, who is beginning to position himself in Offensive Rookie of the Year conversations."

After 15 weeks, DraftKings Sportsbook gave Judkins +18000 odds to win OROY (h/t Patrick Everson of Vegas Insider).

If Judkins isn't ready for the start of next season, that would add to the Browns' offensive problems. Entering Week 16, Cleveland was tied for 29th in the league in points per game (16.1).

Clark Dalton

Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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