CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Browns running back Quinshon Judkins was activated Saturday and will make his NFL debut Saturday against the Ravens.
To make room, the Browns waived undrafted rookie receiver Gage Larvadain, but he’ll be signed back to the practice squad if he clears waivers.
The Browns’ No. 36 overall pick out of Ohio State, Judkins signed his $11.4 million contract last Saturday and practiced with the Browns on Thursday and Friday. On Wednesday, he met with the NFL officials in New York City regarding his domestic battery arrest, for which he wasn’t formally charged.
He’s awaiting that ruling under the Personal Conduct policy, but is free to play in the meantime.
“As a competitor, as a player, you want to go out there and do your best every single day you step on the field,” he said. “... I’m going to give it my all.”
Judkins, who led the Buckeyes wth 1,060 yards rushing and 16 TDs last season, will likely get at least a dozen carries against the Ravens, but it will all depend on how he’s doing. If he can handle more action against the NFL’s No. 1-ranked defense from 2024 he’ll get.
“There’s football shape, and once you get in pads and get hit a little bit, that’s different than working out prior,” Kevin Stefanski said Friday. “But I do think he’s in good shape. I thought he did a nice job with this week.”
Judkins was in good spirits on Friday after his second straight practice and looked to be in great shape. He worked hard over the past three months, and came back ready to go.
“Great feeling just to be back with all of my teammates, back in the building,” Judkins said. “Focusing on football. Glad to be back in Cleveland and help the team win.”
As for Judkins picking up the gameplan this week, it’s easier than swallowing the playbook whole.
“He was with us all spring,” Stefanski said. “Smart kid, so he’s picking up quickly.”
Regarding the boost he can provide the running game, Stefanski was cautiously optimistic. Judkins will likely be workhorse back, with fourth-round pick Dylan Sampson providing a speedy changeup and good hands out of the backfield.
Myles Garrett, for one, is eager for the Browns to return to their ball-control, power running game and believes Judkins will provide a boost.
“For sure,” Garrett said. “He comes in, he’s in shape, he runs hard, he’s a different style of running back than we have currently and looks like he’ll be getting the ball in a variety of ways. So I look forward to seeing what he can do with the ball in his hands, and the more he can keep us off the field and keep us fresh, we can continue to rush and stop the run and get the ball back to them.”
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