Kevin Stefanski’s Cleveland Browns are not only suffering a heavy loss in Foxborough against the New England Patriots, but a serious injury to Quinshon Judkins also leaves Dillon Gabriel without one of his primary rushing weapons on offense.
From now on, the former Oregon Ducks player will have to rely on the rest of his running back depth chart, which includes Jerome Ford and Dylan Sampson. It’s worth noting that Raheim Sanders is also out.
According to NFL insider Tom Pelissero, Judkins had to leave Gillette Stadium with a shoulder injury and is awaiting further evaluation. “Browns RB Quinshon Judkins has been ruled out with a shoulder injury,” the insider reported via @TomPelissero.
If the severity of the injury is confirmed, it would be a major blow to a Browns offense that has faced endless problems since the start of the season—not only due to injuries but also because of unexpected absences during the campaign.
Judkins’ impact on the Browns’ offense
The Cleveland Browns‘ ground game takes a massive hit with the loss of rookie running back Quinshon Judkins to injury. Judkins has been the clear focal point of the run-heavy offense, leading the team with 467 rushing yards on 109 carries and accounting for five rushing touchdowns through the first half of the season.
His absence removes the primary threat who averaged 4.3 yards per carry and leaves a massive vacuum of production for a Browns offense that relies heavily on establishing the run.
A season to forget
The Cleveland Browns are sinking into a familiar mid-season crisis, primarily due to catastrophic instability on offense. What began as a question mark at quarterback has become a turnstile, with the team moving on from both veteran Joe Flacco and the recently acquired Kenny Pickett, throwing rookie Dillon Gabriel into the fire.
Compounding the turmoil, a rash of significant injuries—including key losses on the offensive line and in the run game—has left the unit creatively bankrupt. This constant churn and lack of cohesion are largely responsible for the team’s disappointing start, leaving the once-hyped offense struggling to find any consistent rhythm.