Cleveland Browns Running Back Quinshon Judkins Suffers Multiple Injuries In Week 16 Loss
If you’ve followed the NFL long enough, you know there is a specific, unwritten rule in the playbook of the universe: Cleveland Browns fans aren’t allowed to have nice things for too long. In a season defined by disappointment and a dismal 3-12 record, rookie running back Quinshon Judkins was the lone bright spot—a beacon of hope in an otherwise dark year.
On Sunday against the Buffalo Bills, that light flickered out in the most brutal way possible.
The Devastating Diagnosis For Judkins
Late in the second quarter, with the Browns trying to claw their way back into the game, the worst-case scenario unfolded. On a screen pass that looked routine at first glance, Judkins was tackled by Bills Linebacker Matt Milano. The hit itself wasn’t dirty, but the result was ugly. Judkins’ leg twisted awkwardly underneath him, and the reaction was immediate. He pounded the turf in obvious agony, a sight that silences stadiums and makes viewers at home wince.
The cart came out quickly, and the diagnosis followed not long after. Head Coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed the news that everyone feared: a fractured fibula and a dislocated ankle. Just like that, Judkins’ rookie campaign is over. He faces surgery and a long road to recovery before he can even think about the 2026 season.
A Star In the Making Sidelined
To understand how much this hurts Cleveland, you have to look past the 23-20 loss to Buffalo on the scoreboard. You have to look at what Judkins was doing on the field.
Before Sunday, the second-round pick had been an absolute workhorse. He had racked up 805 rushing yards and found the end zone seven times on the ground. He wasn’t just a runner, either; he had hauled in 21 catches for 142 yards, proving to be the safety valve this struggling offense desperately needed. In a year where the passing game has been a carousel of inconsistency, Judkins was the steady hand. He was on pace for a 1,000-yard season.
Where Cleveland Goes From Here
The loss to the Bills was almost a footnote to the injury. Quarterback Shedeur Sanders showed flashes, completing his first eight passes, but without Judkins to balance the attack, the offense sputtered in key moments. Sanders ended up throwing a pick that bounced off Judkins’ shoulder pad—a cruel metaphor for how the day went.
Raheim Sanders stepped in, managing 42 yards on 11 carries, but the explosive element was gone. With fellow rookie Dylan Sampson already sidelined, the Browns’ backfield was suddenly running on fumes.
Injuries are part of the game. We saw Micah Parsons and Jordan Love go down recently, but for a team like Cleveland, losing their best offensive weapon in a meaningless Week 16 game feels like a final, unnecessary twist of the knife. The Browns will head into the offseason with plenty of questions, but the biggest one now revolves around the rehab of their brightest young star.
