Who Should I Start? Jerome Ford or Quinshon Judkins

Friday, August 8, 6:36 PM

Cleveland Browns running back Jerome Ford is among the players who are not expected to play for the team in its first preseason game against the Carolina Panthers on Friday night. Many key offensive contributors for Cleveland are not expected to play, including wide receiver Jerry Jeudy, tight end David Njoku, and quarterback Joe Flacco. Notably, Browns rookie running back Dylan Sampson is expected to suit up. With fellow rookie Quinshon Judkins still unsigned due to a July arrest, Sampson and Ford are competing for backfield snaps in Cleveland. Ford is entering his fourth season with the Browns, so he has less to prove in preseason action than Sampson.

Friday, August 8, 6:29 PM

Cleveland Browns rookie running back Quinshon Judkins has waived his right to a speedy trial in his ongoing misdemeanor battery/domestic violence case, according to Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk. A second-round pick in the 2025 draft, Judkins has yet to sign his rookie contract with the Browns after being arrested in July. This latest update in the case means that a resolution is unlikely to happen quickly. Judkins' timeline for making his Browns debut is uncertain, and the team has made it clear that handling his legal issues is the priority. Without him, running backs Jerome Ford and Dylan Sampson are set to share the majority of the backfield workload in Cleveland.