Running backs are expected to make an impact right away. Of all the positions on the field, it is usually the easiest for a young player to step into, and teams that use a premium pick on one expect production quickly. When the yards do not come, the questions start just as fast. One Browns back is facing those questions in his 2nd season.
Gary Davenport of Bleacher Report ranked Quinshon Judkins 6th in his re-ranking of 2nd-year running backs. He believes he is falling short of expectations.
“There have been bright spots. Cleveland’s offensive line has also struggled, but Judkins averaged just 3.6 yards per carry before breaking his leg and dislocating his ankle last season. This year, the 22-year-old has struggled to generate explosive gains, averaging just three yards per carry. Judkins still has the talent to run between the tackles, get outside and contribute as a receiver. For now, though, his production has fallen short of expectations,” Davenport wrote.
The expectations were high from the start. The Browns took Judkins 36th overall in 2025 after productive stops at Ole Miss and Ohio State, hoping he would become a dependable every-down back. Davenport pointed to his 23-carry, 110-yard game against the Minnesota Vikings last season as an example of what he can be.
His class has not lived up to the hype either. Ashton Jeanty went to the Las Vegas Raiders with a top-10 pick, and 4 running backs came off the board in the first 40 picks. The group still has not produced a clear star.
Judkins’ numbers this season back up the concern. Averaging around 3 yards per carry is hard to overlook. Even his best game, a 70-yard outing against the Carolina Panthers, came on 18 carries.
There is important context, though. Judkins has forced 18 missed tackles, one of the higher totals in the league, which suggests he is often being hit near the line of scrimmage. Cleveland’s offensive line has 5 new starters. Todd Monken has also said the run game is the root of the offense’s struggles.
The timing makes this a pivotal stretch. Judkins missed the win over the Baltimore Ravens with an ankle injury and was limited in practice Wednesday. Audric Estime scored the tying touchdown in his place, and the Browns have been linked to Tennessee Titans running back Tony Pollard ahead of the November 10 deadline.
That is a lot of pressure on a 22-year-old. If Judkins returns healthy for Sunday’s game in Tennessee and the line keeps improving, he has time to change the conversation. If not, the Browns may decide they need more help in the backfield before the deadline arrives.
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