Cleveland Browns rookie RB Quinshon Judkins suffered a potentially serious right leg injury Sunday game against the Buffalo Bills, one week before facing the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Judkins suffered the injury late in the first half, pounding the ground in pain after being tackled on a swing pass from fellow rookie QB Shedeur Sanders. Per CBS Sports play-by-play announcer Ian Eagle, it was a “serious” injury to the point where the broadcast opted against showing the replay. A decision reserved for only the most gruesome and graphic injuries.
The broadcast showed Judkins getting carted off with an air cast on his leg.
Predictably, the team immediately ruled him out for the rest of the game. Judkins finishes the game with eight carries for 22 yards along with five receptions for 29 yards.
UPDATE (3:58 PM): Per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Judkins suffered at least a broken leg on the play. He’s also being evaluated for further injuries.
#Browns star rookie Quinshon Judkins, who was carted off, suffered a broken leg in today’s game, sources say. He’s also being evaluated for a knee injury.
Judkins’ promising season is over with 947 scrimmage yards in 14 games. pic.twitter.com/B0jdUyg6fT
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 21, 2025
UPDATE (4:13 PM): Post-game, head coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters Judkins also dislocated his ankle.
Browns RB Quinshon Judkins dislocated his ankle and fractured his fibula, per Kevin Stefanski.
— Daniel Oyefusi (@DanielOyefusi) December 21, 2025
Judkins had been one of several rookies powering the Browns’ season, establishing himself as a building block despite a lost season. The second-round pick entered the game with 805 rushing yards, the most of any rookie through the first 15 weeks of the year. That’s despite him missing the season opener due to a contract issue. Entering Week 16, he had accounted for more than 62 percent of the Browns’ rushing yards and seven of their nine rushing scores.
It appears Judkins will miss the rest of his rookie season and spend the offseason rehabbing to get ready for 2026.
Though Sanders’ insertion into the lineup has given Cleveland a more potent downfield passing attack, the Browns’ offense has still revolved around a balanced running game led by Judkins.
Cleveland’s running back depth is thin. Rookie RB Dylan Sampson was a pregame inactive due to injury, leaving Trayveon Williams and Raheim “Rocket” Sanders as alternatives. Sanders was the first runner to receive a touch out of the backfield. Cleveland’s wide receivers have also been involved in the running game while Shedeur Sanders’ scrambles also consistently moved the sticks.
As of this writing, the Bills lead the Browns, 20-10.
Pittsburgh and Cleveland square off next Sunday at 1 PM/EST.
