Browns Give 2-Word Update on Quinshon Judkins’ Week 2 Status
The Cleveland Browns are taking a cautious approach with rookie running back Quinshon Judkins, keeping his debut on hold after his late signing and amid lingering uncertainty about his availability.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski offered little clarity on Monday when asked about Judkins’ status for an important Week 2 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens.
“We’ll see,” Stefanski said.
He continued, “Got to get through this week of practice, but don’t know.”
After an extended holdout and off-field issues, Judkins signed with the Browns on Sept. 6. Cleveland has a two-week roster exemption for Judkins as he gets up to speed. If he remains out this week, he’ll make his debut on Sept. 21 against the Green Bay Packers.
Judkins is expected to meet with NFL investigators this week over a domestic battery charge, which was dropped. A suspension is possible but Judkins was not placed on the Commissioner’s Exempt List based on the fact that he has no criminal charges or cases pending.
Browns’ Run Game Uninspiring Against Bengals
The Browns were unable to get anything going on the ground in a 17-16 Week 1 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Cleveland had just 49 yards rushing in the game, averaging a paltry 2.0 yards per rush. The team’s longest rush of the afternoon was just five yards.
Judkins could play a significant role in providing a boost. The Browns selected Judkins in the second round with pick No. 36 overall. Cleveland did so, knowing they were moving on from Nick Chubb, a fan-favorite and four-time Pro Bowler.
General manager Andrew Berry said after selecting Judkins that he sees “bell cow” potential in the rookie.
“We feel like he’s just a very well-rounded back,” Berry said. “We’ve obviously been spoiled over the past couple of years, particularly with Nick and Kareem (Hunt). And we feel like he is very much in that mold in terms of skill set. Not necessarily saying that he’s going to, with certainty, develop into one of those players. We certainly hope that’s the case. But we think that he can be a bell cow runner that can really carry the load for us.”
Judkins was a big producer during his college career, first at Ole Miss and then at Ohio State. He rushed for 3,785 yards and 45 touchdowns over three college seasons.
Rookie RB Dylan Sampson Shines for Browns
The run game couldn’t get going against the Bengals but rookie running back Dylan Sampson was busy. He led the team with eight receptions for 64 yards. He also registered a team-high 12 carries for 29 yards. Sampson will likely continue to have a significant role once Judkins returns.
“I thought Dylan did a nice job. He was out there because we trust him,” Stefanski said. “He has the ability in the run and the pass game to affect the game.”
The lone rushing touchdown of the day belonged to newcomer Raheim Sanders, whom the Browns claimed after the preseason. He had three carries for three yards and the score.
“I feel like with his size he was the right person for our short yards goal line package,” Stefanski said.
The ground game will be key against the Ravens, with the Browns looking to keep Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry off the field with extended drives. Cleveland held the ball for more than 10 minutes longer than the Bengals on Sunday.
Dodgers Predicted to Sign Top MLB Free Agent After 2025 Season
Los Angeles Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman
The Los Angeles Dodgers have notoriously been one of the top spenders in MLB for several years now. They showed that at the beginning of 2025, they signed many top free agents to improve their roster.
However, that has not led them to become the juggernaut team many analysts and executives thought they would be. Los Angeles is 79-64 and will likely not reach the 90-win mark with just 20 games left this regular season.
Whatever the Dodgers do in the postseason, one MLB Insider believes they will sign the top free agent after 2025.
Dodgers Predicted to Sign Kyle Tucker
The Chicago Cubs’ slugger is having a rough last two months of the season, but is still considered the top free agent.
USA Today’s Bob Nightengale believes it will be to the Los Angeles Dodgers:
“Rival executives still believe he’ll be the highest-paid player in free agency,” Bob Nightengale reported Monday. “Their prediction where he’ll land? The Dodgers, who badly could use outfield help.”
The Dodgers could use outfield help, but signing Tucker to say, $400 million would put them far over the luxury tax. But it would address a much-needed positional issue. Los Angeles signed Michael Conforto to a one-year, $17 million deal before the season, and he has looked like a massive bust the entire season.
Conforto still isn’t above the .200 average mark, despite playing in 124 games. His OPS is 77, well below league average. The Dodgers also traded for left fielder Alex Call back in July, and he hasn’t had much production either. Signing Kyle Tucker in free agency is right up the Dodgers’ wheelhouse.
Although Tucker has struggled for the past few months, he’s still had a solid season. Kyle Tucker still has 22 home runs and an OPS+ of 140.
Kyle Tucker Has So Many Accolades As a Player
Bleacher Report recently came out with a prediction piece about Kyle Tucker’s free agency, and it showed how tenured he is as a player:
“After all, Tucker’s resume includes a World Series title, four All-Star selections, a Silver Slugger and a Gold Glove. He led the league in RBI in 2023 when he was with the Houston Astros and has hit more than 20 home runs in each of the last five seasons. While he hasn’t been himself since the All-Star break with a .242 batting average, five home runs and 17 RBI, some of that can be explained by injury concerns. And he still has solid overall numbers this season with a .270/.381/.472 slash line, 22 home runs and 73 RBI. Tucker is also just 28 years old, which is another reason he will surely command a significant deal this offseason.”
The next question is how much the Dodgers would pay him, and that will be up to Tucker’s agent.
Fans of other MLB teams would not be happy with the Dodgers making a big-money signing like this, but it would put a lot of pressure on the Cubs to attempt to dish out a higher AAV contract. Tucker’s free agency will be one of the highest-anticipated events this offseason.
