CLEVELAND, Ohio — Browns running back Quinshon Judkins took questions from reporters on Friday with regard to returning to practice, his case, possibly playing the Baltimore Ravens in Week 2, and more.
Can you talk about just everything that you’ve been through? What does it feel like to be back here trying to get this thing back on track?
It’s a great feeling just to be back with all of my teammates back in the building back in Cleveland, obviously.
Like, it’s the first time we’ve seen you since Jim Oxley arrest. I know that prosecutors declined to formally charge you, but do you have any comment on the whole situation and everything that happened?
I mean, about the situation. I’m glad that the prosecutors, closed the case and been filing the charges, and I’m appreciative of that. But like I said, (I’m) just happy to be back in Cleveland.
Do you think that you’ll be ready to go on Sunday?
I’m taking it day by day right now. Just focusing on the playbook.
What was the meeting like in New York with the NFL? And do you have any worries about being suspended?
I can’t control that. I think, you know, what I can do is just go out on the field and just be able to help my teammates, you know, prepare each and every day.
Do you feel like you have to re-earn the trust of people because of the arrest, because of the legal process, legal issues you had to go through?
No. My teammates, my coaches, everybody here, they know who I am. They drafted me. The impact that I’ve had on the team since I first got here, (I’m) ready to take on the challenge.
Do you have any regrets from that situation?
I would say you learn different things and see how important people that are around you are like your family, you’re in a circle, people that support you, and you go through things like that. But like I said, I made it through that.
What would you say to fans that, you know, might wonder, even though you didn’t get formally charged, might wonder about you as a person, as a human being, about your character. What can you kind of tell fan about yourself in that way?
So the people that are around me, teammates, my family, people that I impact always been who I am and, you know, I can’t be anybody that I’m not. So I say just control what I control and be myself.
Once the legal situation got resolved, why did it take so Long for you to get here. Do you feel like, you know, the fact that you weren’t able to play week one, does that bother you?
I think as a competitor, I would say not being able to compete, that’s one of the most things that I probably say looked at. But (I’m) just looking forward, and I’m ready to volunteer when I’m ready.
In your time away from the team, what were you able to do to try to keep yourself ready to go and be back here for this month?
The same thing that I would have been doing if I was here. Just training, focus, a lot of working out my playbook, my pass, different things of that nature.
So did the NFL give you any idea of what the time frame is or what the next steps are when you left there on Wednesday?
I didn’t, when I was there. Like I said, it’s nothing I can control or anything like that. I think for myself, it’s just making sure I’m prepared.
What has the message been from Kevin, since you’ve been back and I guess for you, just the fact that they are giving you a second chance?
Like I said, I think everybody here has already known who I am, so I don’t think it was any second questions or anything of that nature. Especially, like I said, with everything being closed with the decision of the prosecutor and all. But just for me to be back here with my teammates, everybody that I love, and see their emotion and how happy they were when I’m back in the building.
Along those lines, it’s a tough way for you to start your rookie season in the NFL. Do you feel a real sense of relief that a lot of this is behind you now?
Definitely, I would say (I’m) just back to playing football and focused, happy to be here, and starting off with a great start.
I know you said you’re day by day as far as when you’re being ready to go, but how did you feel in practice these last two days, physically and mentally, about if they ask you to play Sunday, you’ll be ready?
I feel good, you know, like I said, just still taking it by day in the playbook, learning everything I need to know in case I have to play.
How do you feel like you are mentally right now, to be here trying to just focus on football?
I would say more so. That’s why I’m very happy close here in the circle, support of everyone that’s been around, like I said, basically staying sharp.
Were you ever at any point through the process concerned that maybe you wouldn’t be here?
I would say I wasn’t focusing or like thinking of that way. I just tried to be positive, you know, continue to do what I do and get better as a player, as a competitor, and focus on what I can control.
During your time away, were there people within the organization, teammates, coaches, players, front office that you stayed in contact with? Even after the arrest?
Like I said, I was just more so. Just focused on the field and you know, where it is, the time is there.
I know you worked out with Isaiah Bond in the pre draft process. I believe that it was. Have you guys, you know, and he went through some similar issues. Have you guys been sort of a support to each other in everything that you’ve been through?
I think, you know, like I said, for me to be back in the locker room with all of my teammates, see their expressions, how happy they were that I was back here in Cleveland, back to playing football and just spending a lot of time with them, getting the playbook and being around those guys.
If it’s Sunday or next week, whenever it is, what kind of impact do you think you can have on this offense and the running game in particular when you get back out?
You know, I think me as a competitor, as a player, you want to go out there and do your best every single day you step on the field. So if I have to play, I’m going to give them all.
When you watched Dylan play on Sunday, did you have visions in your head of what you guys can do as a sort of a 1, 2 combination here?
(I) looked at our whole running back room as a whole. Rome did look at Rocket and Dylan as well and all those guys went out there and, you know, did their best on the field. So I’m proud of each and every one of them.
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