Browns running back Quinshon Judkins‘ rookie year ended when he fractured his fibula and dislocated his ankle in a Week 16 loss to the Bills last December. Six months since suffering the injury, which required surgery, Judkins is on track in his recovery. “He’s got his confidence back, his explosion,” head coach Todd Monken said at mandatory minicamp this month (via Ashley Bastock of cleveland.com). “And we’ll just see once we get the pads on, but no, it looks good.” A healthy Judkins will once again handle No. 1 running back duties in his second season. After going 34th overall in last year’s draft, the former Ohio State standout started in all 14 appearances and rushed for 827 yards and seven touchdowns on 230 carries (3.6 YPC). He also pitched in 26 receptions for 171 yards. The Browns have not made any notable backfield additions since the offseason began, leaving holdovers Dylan Sampson and Raheim Sanders next on the depth chart.
More from Cleveland a couple of other cities from the NFL’s North divisions…
- Longtime Browns guard Joel Bitonio called it a career on June 9, walking away after a dozen years and seven Pro Bowl nods. While the 34-year-old spent a couple of months in free agency before announcing his retirement, he didn’t give much consideration to playing for another franchise (via Tony Grossi of TheLandOnDemand.com). “Never anything serious,” he said. “I know my agent talked with other teams.” Although Bitonio’s seven-year Pro Bowl streak snapped in 2025, he started a full season for the ninth time in his career and played a team-high 99.72% of offensive snaps. Bitonio finished the year as Pro Football Focus’ 21st-ranked guard out of 79 qualifiers, going out on a high note.
- The Packers have ended their two-way experiment with Bo Melton, head coach Matt LaFleur said (via Ryan Wood of USA Today). After trying Melton as a receiver/cornerback last year, he will go back to being a full-time offensive player. Melton never actually took a regular-season snap on defense in 2025. The majority of his work (185 snaps) came on special teams. He played 96 offensive snaps in 16 games and caught four passes for 107 yards and a touchdown.
- Speaking of position changes, the Lions have moved Jackson Meeks from receiver to tight end, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press relays. As an undrafted rookie from Syracuse last year, Meeks saw late-season scout-team work at tight end as the Lions dealt with injuries to Sam LaPorta and Brock Wright. He impressed head coach Dan Campbell, who told Meeks at the last practice of the season that he wanted him to switch to tight end on a full-time basis in 2026. Meeks gained 20 pounds in preparation for the role, though Birkett notes he still has an uphill climb to win a job. LaPorta and Wright are back, and the Lions picked up veteran Tyler Conklin in free agency.
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