As Browns 2025 training camp opens, rookie RB Quinshon Judkins is absent amid legal issues, creating a major backfield problem. Can Cleveland overcome this?
StatPro NFL Beat Reporter
The future of the Cleveland Browns began arriving at the CrossCountry Mortgage Campus in Berea today, but the optimism of a new season was immediately tempered by a conspicuous absence. As rookies reported for the start of 2025 training camp, second-round running back Quinshon Judkins was not among them. The former Ohio State star remains unsigned and away from the team as he focuses on a serious domestic violence charge, casting a pall over a position group in desperate need of a new cornerstone.
A 100-yard, three-touchdown performance in the National Championship feels a world away as Quinshon Judkins remains unsigned and away from the team.
The situation surrounding Quinshon Judkins is the most pressing issue facing the Browns. The rookie, arrested on July 7 in Fort Lauderdale, is one of 28 second-round picks from the 2025 draft who remain unsigned. With his legal process ongoing, both the Browns and the NFL have stated they are monitoring the situation, but no discipline has been handed down. For a team looking to rebuild its running back room following the departure of legend Nick Chubb, the absence of a player drafted to be a major contributor creates a massive hole and significant uncertainty as camp gets underway.
While the offense grapples with a rookie's absence, the defense is energized by the potential of its young talent. Second-year defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. is reportedly fully recovered from a knee injury and generating significant breakout buzz. Despite a rookie year hampered by a five-game suspension and injury, Hall flashed elite potential with 16 QB pressures in just eight games. Now, he's set to line up next to the fifth overall pick, defensive tackle Mason Graham, forming what the Browns hope will be a dominant interior duo for years to come. With fellow rookie Carson Schwesinger, a second-round linebacker, also expected to play a key role, the defense is counting on its youth to maintain its top-tier status.
In a piece of welcome news that provides a dose of stability, the Browns announced that their entire primary special teams unit will return for the 2025 season. The team's position preview confirmed that the kicker, punter, and long snapper from last year are all back in the fold. This continuity in the third phase of the game is a valuable asset, ensuring there's one less variable for the coaching staff to worry about as the team navigates the challenges of training camp.
The start of training camp has established a clear, immediate narrative for the Browns. The offense faces a significant and troubling question mark at running back, a situation that needs resolution. Meanwhile, the defense is brimming with the potential of a young, ferocious front four. How the team manages the void left by Judkins and whether the defensive line duo of Hall and Graham can live up to the hype will be the defining stories of the preseason.
