Browns' Quinshon Judkins Reportedly to Meet with NFL, Possible to Debut vs. Ravens W2

Cleveland Browns rookie running back Quinshon Judkins is reportedly trending toward making his NFL debut in Week 2 of the 2025 season against the Baltimore Ravens.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported "there is a real possibility, and even likelihood according to one source, that he will make his NFL debut next Sunday at Baltimore."

According to Schefter, Judkins—who signed his contract with the team Saturday—will meet with the NFL this week regarding its investigation into his July arrest on a misdemeanor domestic violence and battery charge.

Prosecutors declined to pursue legal charges, although the NFL is still reviewing.

Cleveland selected Judkins with the No. 36 overall pick of the 2025 NFL draft, and he became the final draft pick to sign his contract ahead of the season.

Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reported the Browns received a two-week roster exemption for the running back, which means he can practice even though he will not play in Sunday's season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Browns did not bring back veteran Nick Chubb in free agency, but they still have Jerome Ford, Dylan Sampson and Raheim Sanders at running back for the contest against Cincinnati. 

Sampson was a fourth-round pick in this year's draft after he won the 2024 SEC Offensive Player of the Year while leading Tennessee to the College Football Playoff. Ford has been with the Browns since they selected him in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL draft and has 1,390 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground in three seasons.

Still, the expectation was Judkins would compete for the starting role after Cleveland used an early second-round pick to draft him.

He helped lead Ohio State to the national championship last season with 1,060 rushing yards, 161 receiving yards and 16 total touchdowns. Judkins scored three touchdowns for the Buckeyes in their victory over Notre Dame in the national championship game.

The Week 2 game against Baltimore in which Judkins could make his NFL debut is the first of five straight contests for the Browns against teams that made the playoffs last season.