Injuries have a way of piling up at the worst possible time. A team can absorb one or 2 absences, but when key players start going down in bunches, depth gets tested in ways few rosters are built to handle. The Browns are starting to find themselves in that situation. After Sunday’s loss to the New York Jets, another important piece of the offense was spotted with an injury concern.
Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal reported that Quinshon Judkins had a boot on his right foot in the locker room.
“Quinshon Judkins had a boot on his right foot in the locker room,” Easterling wrote.
Quinshon Judkins had a boot on his right foot in the locker room
— Chris Easterling (@ceasterlingABJ) October 11, 2026
There has been no official update from the team, and a walking boot does not automatically mean a serious injury. Players are often placed in one after a game simply to protect the area until a full evaluation can be done. Still, it is not a sight the Browns wanted to see.
Judkins has carried a heavy load. He logged at least 20 touches in each of the 2 games before Sunday and finished with 14 carries for 44 yards and 3 catches against the Jets. Even when the yards have been hard to come by, he has been one of the toughest runners in the league to bring down, forcing 18 missed tackles through the first 4 games.
If he misses time, the backfield gets thin in a hurry. Dylan Sampson is already on injured reserve, leaving Raheim Sanders and Jaleel McLaughlin as the top options. Sanders has been a useful receiver out of the backfield, and McLaughlin broke off a 28-yard touchdown run against the Pittsburgh Steelers, but neither has handled a lead role this season.
The timing adds to the concern. The Browns are already without Mason Graham, and KC Concepcion left Sunday’s game with a head injury.
It could also shift the conversation around the trade deadline. An extended absence for Judkins would make adding a veteran back far more urgent.
The ground game was already a weakness. Cleveland ran for just 96 yards on Sunday, and Deshaun Watson was the team’s most effective runner with 40 yards. Losing Judkins would make it even harder to find balance against the Baltimore Ravens on October 18.
The Browns should know more once Judkins goes through further evaluation this week. For a team that has dropped to 3-2 with a critical division game on deck, any positive news would be a welcome change after a frustrating afternoon in New Jersey.
NEXT: Todd Monken Speaks Out About Jets’ Hit On KC Concepcion
