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CLEVELAND, Ohio — Rookie running back Quinshon Judkins has already taken Browns Town and the fantasy world by storm. At his current blistering clip, he’s making a strong case for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year despite signing late and missing the opener. Following his monster performance during Sunday’s 31-6 victory over the Dolphins, Judkins leads all NFL rookies in rushing yards (467), rushing touchdowns (five) and rushing first downs (29). On Sunday, he rushed 25 times for 84 yards and 3 TD, including a one-cut and go 46-yard touchdown blast that made it 10-3 early in the second quarter. He also scored twice on direct snaps as the wildcat QB, something he did frequently in his two seasons at Ole Miss before transferring to Ohio State in 2024. He becomes the first Browns running back to run for three TDs in a game since Nick Chubb on Sept. 18, 2022, and the first Browns rookie to do since Travis Prentice on Oct. 8, 2000. He’s also rushed for 30-plus yards four times, tying for the most by an NFL rookie after seven weeks since 2000. More Cleveland Browns coverage Quinshon Judkins & Browns defense shine vs. the Dolphins: Monday’s Sports 4 CLE Where things stand at Brook Park City Hall with the Browns’ stadium plans A ‘Have to win’: How victory over Dolphins prevented disaster for Browns At his current pace, he’ll rush for 1,244 yards and 13 touchdowns, which are Chubb-like numbers. “Well, I don’t want to tell you that training camp’s not important because I’ve got a bunch of players that will take that,” Kevin Stefanski said. “He’s in great shape, very diligent kid. All the things that we identified with him in the pre-draft process are all true.” Browns right guard Wyatt Teller, who helped blast open the hole for Judkins’ 46-yard TD, explained how it went down. “They were holding in there tight, just holding your block for a second longer,” Tellers said. “Could have made one of the earlier runs break, but to have I think it was KT (Leveston), coming in there and we just demolished that side and finally got good push and we got Q who, give him some space and he’s not going to stop running. So it’s nice when you get that early in a game, it allows you to run the play over and over and over again.” Judkins is an offensive lineman’s dream, like Chubb was. “Oh man, I love Q,” he said Monday. “I think that he’s intense, an extreme hard worker. He’s smart. He runs hard, he has passion. Sometimes a little too much passion. I have to kind of back him down the tree when he’s talking smack to my d-lineman, I say, ‘Hey, man, I’ve got to block him, alright? Don’t talk too much to him.’ But no, he’s an awesome guy. I mean, I love him. I think that he’s a great football player and I can’t wait to see where it goes.” Judkins is fourth in offensive rookie of the year odds after Giants QB Jaxson Dart, Bucs receiver Emeka Egbuka and Colts tight end Tyler Warren. If the Browns continue to run Judkins 20-25 times a game, he’ll have a bona fide shot at the honor. And the Browns will have a chance to stack some victories this season with Judkins running hard and the defense playing so well. Joel Bitonio has Joe Thomas beat It’s not easy to beat out ironman Joe Thomas on any Browns milestone, but left guard Joel Bitonio managed to do so on Sunday. Making his 168th start, he surpassed Thomas (167) with the most starts since the team returned in 1999. Stefanski gave Bitonio a gameball after the game. “Yeah, that’s awesome,” said Teller. “I think he was talking about it on Saturday or the day before the game, but it’s surreal when you go out there and you see it. He’s getting that start and it’s amazing.” Kevin Stefanski admits to getting heated Bitonio revealed after the game that Stefanski dressed down the offense on Monday for failing to uphold its end of the bargain in the first six games of the season. Stefanski owned up to it on Monday. “Joel’s not supposed to tell you that,” Stefanski kidded. “Yeah, listen, there’s times when you message your football team – I should say this, I message the football team every single day. And there’s sometimes you use different tools to get their attention.” Had he ever gotten that intense? “The Philly comes out every once in a while, yes,” he said. The Browns only put up 206 yards in the rainy and windy victory over the Dolphins, but the Browns went 2-for-3 in the red zone and didn’t turn the ball over for the third straight week. It’s something to build upon this season. Shirtless Schwartz Stefanski awarded defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz a gameball for his unit’s amazing performance against the Dolphins, one in which it held them to 1 of 13 on third down and kept them out of the end zone. After Stefanski yelled for Schwartz to come and accept the gameball, he did so — shirtless. “We do have a dress code now,” Stefanski said. “That was, yeah. Well, the entire defense got a game ball, but I just wanted to point out, Jim. I thought it was a really smart plan and obviously very well executed.” Schwartz played more zone than man, blitzed a lot more, and moved Myles Garrett around more than he had all season. The changes weren’t lost on Garrett, who snapped his three-game sackless streak with a 7 yard takedown of Tua Tagovailoa. “Yeah, I mean we took some risks and we sent some guys, sent the corners, sent the safety and that’s the Jim I know,” Garrett said after the game. “That’s the aggresse in-your-face defense that we’ve been known for, and I like getting back to who we are and I think what we did today, we can continue to do all year. But we have to be willing to stick to who we are and our identity.” Reuniting with Vrabes The Browns will try to beat their 2024 coaching and personnel consultant Mike Vrabel Sunday in New England, where he has the Patriots at 5-2 behind second-year quarterback Drake Maye. Vrabel, who mostly helped coach Brownstight ends, offensive line and special teams last year, knows the inner workings of the Browns and many of their players. “Yeah, it’s going to be a great challenge,” Stefanski said. “Coach Vrabes is somebody that I admire in this profession, how he goes about his business. You know, he was very impactful for us while he was here, while we borrowed him for a bit. But they’re playing really good football and they’re talented on all three sides of the ball. They’re well coached. So, it’s going to be a great challenge for our football team.” Stefanski was asked why he wasn’t threatened by Vrabel’s presence on the team last year, with some fans and media speculating that the Akron native could be in line to take Stefanski’s job. “Vrabes is a good friend,” Stefanski said. “Wanted him around the building as much as we could get him last year. Like I told you guys when we brought him in, there’s only so many times you can go skiing. So, he was excited to get back to work. But it’s just the friendship there, and somebody I trust.” On Dillon Gabriel Gabriel (13 of 18, 116 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT) didn’t pass much in the driving rain and fierce winds, so it’s hard to just the passing game on that performance. But the Browns know they must bolster the passing game if they hope to loosen up the box and keep the running game viable. Tight end David Njoku (knee) told cleveland.com that he’ll be back for the Patriots game, and if that’s true, it will help. Stefanski said he’s day-to-day. “With all of our young players, we’re learning about them every day they’re in the building,” Stefanski said. “Obviously, these games are important for them and putting them in different situations. So obviously, Dillon’s only three games into his career, and he’s had some unique challenges, but to be able to play clean and take care of the football for this football team and obviously get his first win as a starting quarterback yesterday, I thought was good for him. Obviously, that’s something that you always remember.” Gabriel also continues to move well on the designed runs and keepers, and hasn’t turned the ball over in his three starts. “He’s done a nice job moving in the pocket,” Stefanski said. “I thought the play to Jamari (Thrash) was really high level yesterday to break contain to the left and have Jamari (Thrash) coming across the field – I think a 23-yard gain on third down. So those are the type of things that when you’re talking about scramble drill, it really does. It’s important for everybody to be on the same page. I thought it was good rep by both Dillon and Jamari yesterday.” DT Adin Huntington in the protocol Huntington is in the protocol after suffering a concussion on Sunday, and is day-to-day. He’s a valuable member of the Browns’ blocking scheme, playing fullback on offense.
