LAS VEGAS — The focus and conversation around the Browns’ Nov. 23 game at the Las Vegas Raiders has centered around one high-profile rookie. That, of course, is quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who will be making his starting debut in the game.
For all the attention that Sanders will command in the game, there are two other rookies in the game whose impact has already been felt over multiple games. And they could play a major role in how the game turns out, almost as much as Sanders.
On the one hand, you have Browns running back Quinshon Judkins, a second-round pick. On the other, you have running back Ashton Jeanty, the Raiders’ first-round pick.
Whichever one of them wins the individual battle could help take pressure off quarterbacks who, in their own ways, are under a lot of stress. While Sanders is dealing with the weight of his first NFL start, veteran Raiders quarterback Geno Smith is dealing with the weight of a very disappointing season in which he’s thrown a league-high-tying 13 interceptions.
“I mean, this is the NFL, you’re playing against the best of the best every Sunday,” Judkins said Nov. 21. “So every Sunday I feel like it’s a challenge for us. Just go out there and try to get a win.”
Judkins, the No. 36 overall pick in the draft, missed the season opener because he had just signed his rookie contract the day before. He missed all of training camp because of issues involving a July domestic violence arrest in Florida in which no charges were ultimately filed.
The former Ohio State standout has wasted no time in making an impact since getting on the field in Week 2. He’s rushed for 620 yards, which ranks 17th among all rushers but No. 1 among all rookie, and five touchdowns, which is second among rookies and tied for 14th among all players.
Las Vegas is 15th in stopping the run, allowing 107.3 yards per game. Defensive coordinator Patrick Graham told Las Vegas reporters Nov. 20 the thing about Judkins is his vision.
“I was telling the players today, I said, ‘You got to remember, most running backs in the league, they’ve been playing running back since they were, like, 7 years old, so they got a ton of reps,'” Graham said. “Lot of you guys were linebackers. You played running back, you might have played tight end, something like that. Then you became a linebacker in high school or college, or you played tight end in high school, you become a D-lineman in college. But most running backs, they’ve been toting that ball since they were little kids, so they got a lot of reps, a lot of reps in terms of where the vision needs to be and finding holes.’
“And you can see it with him. He’s pretty exceptional.”
Thirty picks before the Browns took Judkins, Las Vegas selected Jeanty out of Boise State. He was the Heisman Trophy runner-up his final season there after rushing for 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns.
Jeanty has played in all 10 games for the Raiders, ranking second behind Judkins among rookies with 554 yards. That’s tied with Bo Jackson — that Bo Jackson — for third-most for a Raiders rookie running back through 10 games.
The Browns rank 14th in rushing yards allowed with 106.5 per game. However, they understand the assignment against the 5-foot-8, 208-pound Jeanty.
“Same stuff we’ve been doing for all the backs,” said Browns rookie defensive tackle Mason Graham, who was taken one pick before Jeanty. “Reset the line scrimmage, have tight edges, work together as a defense and then, obviously, he’s a good player, he might have some plays here and there, but got to limit him, bigger back, tackle him with urgency.”
Judkins is coming off a game in which he ran for 59 yards in 17 carries in a loss to the Ravens. Jeanty, meanwhile, had just six carries for seven yards in a Raiders loss to the Dallas Cowboys.
Every time out, though, is an opportunity for each running back. It’s a learning one as much as any.
“Yeah, I mean, it’s a different challenge every week against whoever you’re playing,” Jeanty told Las Vegas reporters Nov. 19. “There are great players all across the league. So, the preparation and all that leading up to it has to be elite, and then just getting more comfortable with the speed of the game.”
Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ