Content warning: This article contains depictions of alleged domestic assault.
Cleveland Browns running back Quinshon Judkins will not face formal misdemeanor battery charges after he was arrested in July, the Broward State Attorney’s Office told ESPN’s Daniel Oyefusi.
Prosecutors declined to move forward with the case due to several factors, including “late reporting of the alleged incident to police, no surveillance video, and no independent witnesses.”
“This incident was not captured on any video surveillance,” read the memorandum by the State Attorney’s Office. “There are no independent witnesses to the incident. Although the victim had photos showing injuries sustained, there were also videos in that same time frame where no injuries were observed to the victim. Additionally, the victim’s injuries depicted in the photos could be explained by either account of the incident. Finally, there was a delayed report of the incident. The delay is problematic as the victim was alone on numerous occasions without the Defendant, had the ability and resources to make the report without his knowledge, but chose not to do so. For the reasons set forth above, there is no reasonable likelihood of conviction and this case is being declined.”
Judkins was arrested July 12 after he allegedly punched a woman in the chin/lip area, arm and thigh, following their deplaning of a flight at the Fort Lauderdale International Airport. Because the woman “felt bad due to the recent success and career of the defendant,” she reported the alleged assault five days after it allegedly happened, per the police report. The woman reportedly still had bruising in the areas where she claimed Judkins hit her.
Judkins has yet to sign his rookie deal with the Browns. Owner Jimmy Haslam told reporters last month that he was “cautiously optimistic” Judkins would eventually sign and play for the team, but added that he was letting due process play out and called the Browns’ repeatedconnection to domestic abuse allegations “extremely frustrating.”
The Browns selected Judkins in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft out of Ohio State, where he helped lead the Buckeyes to a national championship a few months prior. Judkins scored three touchdowns in their title game win over Notre Dame. He transferred to Ohio State from Ole Miss ahead of the 2024 season, and he led the team with 1,060 rushing yards.
