Mississippi Rebels running back Quinshon Judkins (4) is tackled by Penn State Nittany Lions safety Kevin Winston Jr. (21) during the second half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Dale Zanine Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Quinshon Judkins, a rookie running back for the Cleveland Browns, punched his ex-girlfriend in the mouth during a heated argument over text messages while the couple vacationed in South Florida, police say.
Judkins’ ex reported the domestic violence incident on Saturday — although the battery occurred five days before, on July 6. Judkins, 21, was arrested at the Four Seasons Hotel, 525 N Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd, per a police report.
The victim told investigators she waited to report the incident because “she felt bad due to [Judkins’] recent success and career” but changed her mind after speaking with her loved ones. Judkins and his ex-girlfriend had split in December but were rekindling their relationship at the time of the incident, the report shows.
Judkins, who faces a misdemeanor domestic battery charge, bonded out of the Broward Main Jail on Sunday. The Miami Herald reached out to his attorney David Weinstein but hasn’t received a response as of Monday afternoon.
Judkins’ ex-girlfriend told investigators that their spat began at the baggage claim of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, when Judkins got frustrated after reading messages from family members. The nature of the messages wasn’t mention in the police report.
However, their argument escalated when they entered a Lamborghini SUV. Judkins’ ex, according to the report, told him the messages weren’t true, then Judkins punched her in the mouth.
Officers noted in the report that she had visible bruising on her chin — and photographs of her injuries.
At one point, the victim got out of the SUV and called Judkins’ mother, although she didn’t tell her what had transpired, the report says. She got back inside, and the squabble over the messages continued.
Judkins then hit his ex-girlfriend several times while driving, according to the report. She had visible bruises on her arm and thigh — and photos of her injuries, officers noted.
She told police she began to kick her feet at Judkins to defend herself, the report says. Shortly after, Judkins pulled into a Burger King parking lot, where his ex told him, “Don’t touch me again.”
It’s unclear from the police report what happened in the five days before she reported the incident.
Judkins was selected in the second round with the 36th overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft by the Browns after having played for the Ohio State Buckeyes. In 2022, he was named SEC Freshman of the Year when he was a second-string running back for the University of Mississippi Rebels.