Team news: Cleveland Browns | Page 3

Quinshon Judkins is officially questionable for Week 2.

Related Players: Dylan Sampson, Jerome Ford

So it's still up in the air whether the second-round rookie will actually be taking the field here in Week 2, so the backfield's fantasy value is still very much in the air. After Sampson's eight-catch performance during the opening weekend, he should shoot up into high-end RB3 territory without Judkins, but becomes slightly less valuable if he's splitting with both his fellow rookie and Jerome Ford.

Browns listed rookie RB Quinshon Judkins as a full participant in today’s practice.

Related Players: Dylan Sampson, Jerome Ford

It still hasn't been verified whether the second-round rookie will actually be taking the field here in Week 2, so the backfield's fantasy value is still very much in the air. After Sampson's eight-catch performance during the opening weekend, he should shoot up into high-end RB3 territory without Judkins, but becomes slightly less valuable if he's splitting with both his fellow rookie and Jerome Ford.

Second-round pick Quinshon Judkins will be back at practice this week for the Browns after signing his rookie contract Sept. 6. Whether or not the running back will be able to play in Cleveland's next game at the Baltimore Ravens is something yet to be determined.

"We'll see," Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said on a Zoom call Sept. 8, a day after the season-opening 17-16 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. "Gotta get through the week of practice. But I don't know."

Related players: Dylan Sampson, Jerome Ford, Raheim Sanders

The story said the league is investigating the domestic violence arrest in July — which the Broward County State Attorney's Office elected to not pursue charges on in August — and that will include an interview with Judkins at some point this week. The story added the last time Judkins went through workouts with the Browns was June, so he will need to get to the point where he is capable of contributing. This will be worth monitoring as the week goes on. Sampson, Ford and Sanders all saw work in Week 1, with Sampson collecting eight catches while Sanders scored a touchdown.

The Browns are signing second-round rookie running back Quinshon Judkins to a four-year contract worth $11.4 million, fully guaranteed.

After a whirlwind offseason involving Judkins, all 257 draft picks are now signed. Judkins was arrested during the offseason on a misdemeanor battery charge. On August 14, those charges were dropped as the Broward County State Attorney’s Office decided not go forward with the charges. The NFL investigation is still ongoing. Judkins can now finally practice after missing all of the preseason. He clearly won’t play Sunday against the Bengals, leaving Jerome Ford and Dylan Sampson to lead the charge. Depending on how he practices next week, he could play in Week 2 against the Ravens.

Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com believes Quinshon Judkins will return to the team soon.

"I believe Judkins will be back with the Browns soon, possibly even sometime this week as they prepare for the Bengals."

Related players: Dylan Sampson, Jerome Ford

Judkins, of course, was dealing with domestic violence and battery charges that were eventually dropped, but the NFL is still weighing potential punishment. Kabot even said if he makes it back early enough, he could contribute some in the opener. It's hard to imagine Judkins would get a heavy workload, but his return for fantasy is at least good news for owners who took a chance on him. It does muddy the waters with Sampson and Ford also in the picture in the backfield, but given Judkins draft capital, one would think he'd be poised to lead the way in the backfield once he's up to speed.

Browns Stefanski said Dillon Gabriel is the backup quarterback.

Related players: Shedeur Sanders, Joe Flacco

This shouldn't come as a shock based on the way the Browns treated their QB rotation. The team's QB saga is over for now with the trading of Kenny Pickett. Deshaun Watson should be out for a most of this season, but things will again get interesting once Watson is cleared to play.

A year ago, the New York Jets wanted Malachi Corley so much that they traded up and selected him with the first pick in the third round of the 2024 NFL draft.

On Tuesday, they cut him, a source confirmed to ESPN.

There were jobs available in the Jets' receiving corps, but Corley was leapfrogged by a handful of players, including rookie free agents. He played 53 offensive snaps in the preseason, fifth among the New York receivers, but managed only one catch for 8 yards. He also returned four kickoffs for 101 yards, the story said.

Browns released veteran kicker Dustin Hopkins.

Related players: Andre Szmyt

The Browns will go with Szmyt as their kicker to start the 2025 season.

Browns are sending QB Kenny Pickett to the Las Vegas Raiders, per sources.

Related players: Geno Smith, Aidan O'Connell, Joe Flacco, Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel

As Schefter summarized, the Raiders needed another backup for Smith with O'Connell fracturing his wrist in the preseason finale and being expected to miss 6-8 weeks. As for the Browns, they had a logjam at the position so it makes sense Pickett would be the one moved. Now the Browns will need to settle their QB depth chart behind starter Flacco.

Yes, Browns running back Quinshon Judkins could still be suspended, even though he won’t face criminal charges arising from recent allegations of domestic violence.

Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports that the Browns and the 36th overall pick in the 2025 draft have yet to reach an agreement. They possibly won’t until the NFL has concluded its internal investigation.

Related players: Dylan Sampson, Jerome Ford, Pierre Strong Jr.

This implies that an investigation will happen, which is normal practice even when criminal charges aren’t pursued, the story said. The other complicating factor is that Judkins is in line for a fully-guaranteed contract, according to the story. The story added, Judkins’s only leverage at this point is to sit out the season and re-enter the draft. The story went to ponder, if he doesn’t sign a contract until next year, would any suspension be served based on games missed this year. From a fantasy standpoint, those who drafted Sampson look like they may profit off this situation, especially if Judkins opts to sit out and re-enter the draft. Ford would likely be a big contributor in the offense as well, assuming Judkins isn't a part of it.