Browns elevate rookie Quinshon Judkins to lead back role vs Packers

Quinshon Judkins, the Cleveland Browns second round pick, has vaulted into the team’s running back rotation less than two weeks after signing his rookie contract, appearing set to play a leading role Sunday when the Browns host the Green Bay Packers. Judkins made his NFL debut in Week 2 at Baltimore, logging 20 snaps with 13 touches, including 10 carries for 61 yards and three receptions for 10 yards, and a 31-yard run that was Cleveland’s longest play of the season.

The rookie’s quick elevation follows a delayed arrival to the team after contract negotiations and a July misdemeanor battery charge that prosecutors later dismissed. The NFL is still conducting its own review, and no league discipline has been announced. Team officials activated Judkins to the 53-man roster on Saturday, and the Browns’ unofficial depth chart lists him as the top running back for Week 3. Head coach Kevin Stefanski, while calling the chart “unofficial,” praised Judkins’ work and said the staff will continue to ramp him up from a conditioning and scheme standpoint.

Quarterback Joe Flacco and offensive coordinator Tommy Rees offered guarded optimism about the rookie’s impact. Flacco said Judkins has “a...