Deebo Samuel’s Kickoff Return Role Sparks Debate: Is It Worth the Risk for Commanders?
It didn't take long for the Washington Commanders to have the whole Deebo Samuel experience. The sixth-year wide receiver caught seven passes for 77 yards and carried the ball one time for 19 yards and a touchdown in Washington's Week 1 win over the New York Giants.
Samuel also served as the Commanders' primary kickoff returner. Samuel averaged 25 yards in his two returns on Sunday.
Considering Samuel's style of play, injury history, and the need to preserve him, should he be returning kicks? When Washington coach Dan Quinn met with the media on Monday, he was asked if he's worried Samuel will get hurt, considering some of the collisions on kick returns.
"I try not, I wouldn't put him in if I felt like that would be the case because I do know it's some game-breaking plays, but if we can be the best at that, then I think that's a really big opt to do it," Quinn said. "It's definitely different than it was just two years ago. They're closer, it's different. It's a more effective way, I think, with the kick and the kick returns. We're still learning it and growing, but I do feel like he's the type of person that can be a game breaker at it."
Quinn is correct. When the NFL changed the kickoff rules before the 2024 season, it was done with player safety in mind. The new kickoff features fewer high-speed collisions because the kicking team can't build up speed as quickly as before. Therefore, we saw several teams put more high-profile players in at kick returner last season. The Commanders did it with veteran running back Austin Ekeler. While Ekeler was successful in the role, he also suffered a concussion returning a kickoff.
Quinn isn't the first coach to have Samuel return kicks. The 49ers had Samuel returning kicks last season after the rules were changed. Samuel's run-after-catch ability makes him an ideal candidate to return kicks. With San Francisco last season, Samuel returned 17 kickoffs for 533 yards.
Samuel has only played a full season once. However, he has only missed two games in each of the past two seasons. Samuel is often beaten up because of his style of play, which makes the argument of not using him on kick returns a valid one.
Former Washington head coach Jay Gruden probably wouldn't use Samuel on kickoff returns.
"Yeah, that's a tough one for me," Gruden told "Grant & Danny" of 106.7 The Fan in Washington, D.C., on Monday. "I don't know if I'd put him back there; however, I don't know what the alternative is. I don't know if the new rookie running back can do it, I don't know who else could do it........I would err on the side of not putting him back there if I had somebody else that was almost as good. I would put him back there and let Deebo save his energy for offense."
Before you get mad at Gruden, he understands the situation the Commanders are in. Who else can do it effectively? Quinn and Gruden make good points. There is risk and reward involved here. It took only one game for Samuel to make himself an indispensable option for quarterback Jayden Daniels.
Neither opinion is wrong, but so much will come down to Samuel's health. Considering he also impacts the running game, the Commanders may eventually choose to err on the side of caution
Joe Flacco Gets Honest on Quinshon Judkins Joining Browns
The Cleveland Browns could have a new-look running back room in Week 2.
The Browns officially signed rookie Quinshon Judkins to his deal, as he was the last draft pick to sign. Although Judkins signed, he may not play in Week 2, but he will be back practicing with the team.
Ahead of Judkins returning to the team, the Browns’ starting quarterback, Joe Flacco, is excited for the rookie running back to be a part of the offense.
“I think it’s exciting for him,” Flacco said about Judkins after the Week 1 loss. “I mean, we got to see him a little bit in the spring, and he, you know, looked like a hell of a ball carrier. So, listen, I think we’re going to need all the pieces at some point, and different guys are going to need to step up at different points in the season. I think he’s a big part of what this football team could be, so it’s good to have him back. And I’m excited for him to kind of get in there and feel like he can be part of the team again.”
Judkins will be a key part of the Browns’ offense once he is able to play, but it’s uncertain if he will be in the lineup in Week 2.
Judkins was selected 36th overall by the Browns in 2025.
Browns Noncommittal on Judkins Playing Week 2
Although Judkins signed before Week 1, he missed all of training camp and preseason, so he will need some time to ramp up.
However, Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said he isn’t sure if Judkins will play in Week 2.
“We’ll see,” Stefanski said. “Gotta get through this week of practice. I don’t know.”
The NFL is also set to meet with Judkins to discuss his legal issue, which has now been resolved.
In Judkins’ absence, the Browns used Jerome Ford and Dylan Sampson in Week 1. Sampson rushed for 29 yards on 12 carries, while Ford rushed for 8 yards on 6 carries. Sampson, however, added 64 receiving yards on 8 receptions as he was a big part of the Browns’ passing game.
Cleveland is set to go on the road to play the Baltimore Ravens in Week 2.
Cleveland Had High Praise for Judkins
The Browns used an early Day 2 pick to select Judkins to be a star running back for the team.
Following the pick, Browns general manager Andrew Berry said they viewed Judkins as a bell cow running back.
“We feel like he’s just a very well-rounded back,” Berry said. “We’ve obviously been spoiled over the past couple of years, particularly with Nick and Kareem (Hunt). And we feel like he is very much in that mold in terms of skill set. Not necessarily saying that he’s going to, with certainty, develop into one of those players. We certainly hope that’s the case. But we think that he can be a bell cow runner that can really carry the load for us.”
The hope for the Browns is that Judkins will be able to play in Week 2. But it is likely he will need at least another week to get up to speed.
