Garrett Podell’s Week 1 call on Quinshon Judkins is the kind of prediction that works because it is specific enough to be tested immediately. The CBS Sports analyst said Judkins will rush for over 75 yards against the Jaguars in Week 1 of the 2026 season, and that is a meaningful line for a back facing a defense that was described as the top run unit in football last season.
That is why the prediction feels bold. Judkins was productive as a rookie in 2025, when he ran for 827 yards, but Cleveland is walking into this matchup with more than one reason for caution. The Browns are expected to start two rookie linemen, and potentially unsteady quarterback play could make it harder to keep defenses honest. In a game like that, the run game can become both more important and more difficult to sustain.
Why the Jaguars are still the real test
The Jaguars’ side of this is just as important. This offseason brought a second year in Anthony Campanile’s scheme, and the team made no significant losses, which helps explain why the run defense profile still matters so much. A unit that was already strong last season should not suddenly become easy to move just because the calendar has turned.
So the question is not simply whether Judkins can clear 75 yards. It is whether he can do it against a defense that has every reason to believe it can control the line of scrimmage, especially if Cleveland is forced to lean on young blockers and live with less stable quarterback play. That combination makes Podell’s forecast more than a hot take. It is a direct challenge to one of the league’s better defensive identities.
Judkins’ rookie season showed that he can produce even in messy surroundings. Week 1 will tell us whether that remains true against a Jaguars front that is supposed to make exactly this sort of benchmark performance hard to find.
