Browns’ Quinshon Judkins and Carson Schwesinger leave in walking boots after loss to Jets

The Cleveland Browns are heading into Week 6 with a pair of concerns after their loss to the New York Jets, with multiple reports from MetLife Stadium indicating running back Quinshon Judkins and linebacker Carson Schwesinger left Sunday’s game in walking boots. The images and descriptions of their postgame departure suggested both players were dealing with injuries that required more than a routine precaution, though the specific ailments were not detailed in the reports referenced.

Judkins’ status is particularly notable because he is a central part of Cleveland’s backfield workload when healthy. When a running back is forced into a walking boot on the road after a game ends, it typically indicates the team will need time to determine the severity, potential treatment plan, and whether the issue affects his ability to practice during the coming days.

Schwesinger’s situation carries its own weight for Cleveland’s defensive personnel planning. As a linebacker, his role spans multiple run-and-pass responsibilities, and a walking boot after a game often changes week-to-week availability in both practice and game-day roles. For teams that build their defensive packages around personnel comfort and timing, losing a linebacker’s mobility for even a short stretch can ripple through play-calling and matchup assignments.

The timing of the update matters for the Browns because it arrives with a full week before their next opponent. Week 6 is generally when the league’s early-season injuries begin to show patterns, with teams leaning more heavily on depth when starters cannot return quickly. For Cleveland, having two players leaving in boots creates uncertainty not only for whether they can participate, but also for the risk level involved in attempting to push them back into action.

Cleveland’s immediate priority will be information. The first practical checkpoint is the team’s designation and confirmation process leading into the next practice window, which will clarify whether either player is considered day-to-day, limited, or more firmly sidelined. Without additional reporting that identifies the nature of the injuries, it would be premature to forecast recovery timelines, but the visible footwear after the game points to issues that warranted extra caution during travel.

From a broader team-building standpoint, the Browns have to account for how their offensive and defensive units function if either Judkins or Schwesinger cannot go. On offense, replacing a running back’s touches affects both early-down balance and short-yardage planning. On defense, losing a linebacker can change how the team fills gaps and matches coverage concepts, which can lead to adjustments in who handles the field responsibilities and how Cleveland aligns personnel in key downs.

What to watch next is the next set of injury updates tied to the Week 6 game plan. If either player remains in a boot or is listed with an ongoing limitation, Cleveland’s coaching staff may use more reps in practice for backup options to tighten roles before game day. If both return to full participation quickly, the walking-boot episode could turn into a brief scare. For now, the only confirmed detail in the reporting is that both Judkins and Schwesinger exited Sunday’s game in walking boots as the Browns returned to Cleveland.