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Cleveland Browns running back Quinshon Judkins gave his take on Shedeur Sanders.
Cleveland Browns running back Quinshon Judkins isn’t shy about where he stands on quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
Judkins appeared on the Downs 2 Business podcast, hosted by Josh and Caleb Downs, where he spoke glowingly about his teammate. He praised Sanders for making the Pro Bowl as an alternate, which drew some criticism around the league.
“That was good, bro, I was happy for him,” Judkins said. “To see what he endured all year, and him to make it through that, the ups and downs, and see him be rewarded with that, I’m happy for him bro. That’s good for him.”
Judkins also put together a strong rookie campaign, rushing for 827 yards and seven touchdowns in 14 games. His debut season was cut short by a broken leg and dislocated ankle, but he is expected to be fully ready for the start of training camp.
Judkins Defends Sanders Against ‘Cocky’ Label
Sanders has faced criticism throughout his career for his confidence and public persona, with some pointing to it as a reason he slid from a projected first-round pick to No. 144 overall in the fifth round of the draft.
But Judkins pushed back on that narrative, saying Sanders’ self-belief is not a flaw but exactly what it takes to succeed.
“I feel like that’s a lot of players, though. Some people take it as you’re being cocky. But it’s not, though, I feel,” Judkins said. “To be that type of player, to where you produce on the field, you have to have that confidence. That’s what you have to bring in. The belief, the self-belief, the determination. That is what makes you, you. So I think a lot of people may not like that, but I think that’s what makes him, himself.”
Judkins previously said that he and Sanders grew close during their rookie season.
“He’s fun to be around,” Judkins told The Arena: Gridiron. “We spend a lot of time outside the building. Me and him are cool.”
Quinshon Judkins Weighs In on Browns’ QB Competition
Sanders is viewed by some as the frontrunner for the Browns’ starting job next season. But the situation is far from settled as Cleveland continues to evaluate its options. New head coach Todd Monken has made it clear the job will be earned.
“I mean, I don’t why it wouldn’t be an open competition,” Monken said recently. “I don’t mean that saying it harshly, but I don’t think there’s enough on film over the last couple years one way or the other to say, boy, we have our starter at quarterback yet. Whether internally or externally.”
Judkins isn’t putting much stock into the outside speculation around the Browns’ quarterback competition, instead pointing to the growth he’s seen personally.
“Even if I had an opinion on it, you never really know at the end of the day. Everybody looks at each player a different way,” Judkins said. “I love all the quarterbacks in our room. We got such a young team, and they developed so much throughout the year. They look like totally different players than when they first started out. When he said (QB competition), me personally, I didn’t think nothing of it. I think that’s what any coach would say coming in. You earn your respect on the grass.”
Several key dates loom for the Browns, starting with the opening of free agency on March 9.
J.R. DeGroote JR DeGroote is a staff writer for Heavy.com, where he has covered the NFL, NBA, and trending sports stories since 2019. His work focuses on some of the most passionate fanbases in sports, including reporting on the Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Lakers. More about J.R. DeGroote
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