Browns Rule Out Quinshon Judkins Against Ravens After Ankle Tweak

The Cleveland Browns are officially putting Quinshon Judkins on ice for today's AFC North showdown against the Baltimore Ravens. After spending the week nursing an ankle injury and carrying a questionable tag, the lead back has been ruled out.

We probably should have seen this coming the second he left MetLife Stadium in a walking boot last Sunday after a loss to the New York Jets. In the NFL, a postgame walking boot is the medical equivalent of a "we need to talk" text. It almost never ends with you suiting up six days later.

"Adam Schefter reported: 'Browns RB Quinshon Judkins, who was questionable with an ankle injury, is out today.'"

The caution makes perfect sense when you look at his medical chart. Judkins is less than a year removed from a brutal rookie-season injury where he dislocated his ankle and fractured his fibula last December. You do not rush a guy back from a tweak when his leg has a recent history of bending in unnatural directions.

This leaves the 3-2 Browns in a tough spot for a divisional rock fight. With Dylan Sampson also ruled out due to a knee injury, Cleveland is handing the backfield keys to Jaleel McLaughlin and Audric Estime.

That is not exactly the thunder-and-lightning combo you want when trying to keep pace in the AFC North. The Browns are already sitting as three-point home underdogs in a game with a miserable 39.5-point total, meaning points were already going to be at a premium before they lost their primary chain-mover.

For now, head coach Todd Monken is calling Judkins day-to-day. Cleveland will have to survive Baltimore with a patchwork backfield and hope their star runner can get right before this ankle tweak turns into a lingering season-long headache.