The Cleveland Browns don't want to let Quinshon Judkins' absence affect their running game.
That's what Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters on Wednesday.
“Going back to when we added (offensive line coach Mike) Bloomgren with (offensive coordinator) Tommy Rees, really making sure we’re a sound run game,” Stefanski said. “When you talk about the run game it’s easy to say the running backs and the offensive line, but it does take everybody. We need wide receivers who can block, we need quarterbacks who can get you in and out of the right plays. I think the guys have put in a ton of work into the run game, and I know those guys are excited about some of the things we’re doing. But you have to go do it in the games.”
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Judkins is the second-round rookie out of Ohio State. He still hasn't signed his rookie contract as the NFL investigates him under its personal conduct policy.
If Judkins had been on the team, he'd very likely be the starting running back.
Instead, it'll be a combination of guys behind QB Joe Flacco.
Jerome Ford is the returning leader of the RB room. He had a team-high 565 rushing yards last season.
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The Browns also drafted another running back, taking Dylan Sampson out of Tennessee in the fourth round. He'll back up Ford and likely see some action of his own in the early going.
Cleveland also recently claimed undrafted rookie Raheim 'Rocket' Sanders from the Los Angeles Chargers. And they've got two RBs on the practice squad: Ahmani Marshall and Trayveon Williams.
There's a chance Judkins ends up showing up at some point during the season, but until that point, it'll be up to the rest to get the job done. And to balance things out with the 40-year old Flacco slinging it, Cleveland really needs its run game to work.
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