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The Cleveland Browns have signed running back Toa Taua.
The Cleveland Browns are bulking up their backfield amid injuries and uncertainty, signing UFL standout Toa Taua.
Taua went undrafted in 2023 but has made a name for himself in the UFL. He led the league in rushing touchdowns last season, collecting 357 yards on 81 carries.
Prior to the UFL, Taua played five years at Nevada, rushing for 3,995 yards and 33 touchdowns. He also caught 163 passes for 1,192 yards and four more touchdowns.
The signing of Taua comes with the Browns dealing with depth issues at running back. Jerome Ford has been sidelined with an injury, while rookie Quinshon Judkins remains unsigned, dealing with his off-field issues. That has left Dylan Sampson, Pierre Strong Jr. and undrafted rookie Ahmani Marshall carrying the load.
Browns general manager Andrew Berry hinted at a potential running back signing this week.
“We are still gathering information, so, in terms of those decisions, signing, being at camp and everything like that, it’s probably too early to make any type of determination. So, as we gather information, we’ll have a better view on that,” Berry said. “I have learned in many of these off-field situations not to go too far into the future. We’ll deal with the day-to-day. You end up using a lot of mental energy in terms of hypotheticals and things of that nature. We’ll focus on getting the information and then making the right decisions.”
Browns Gathering Information on Quinshon Judkins
Ford and Judkins were projected to be heavily in the mix for the Browns. Cleveland selected Judkins in the second round with pick No. 36.
Judkins was arrested on July 12 and charged with misdemeanor domestic battery in Florida. The charge stems from an incident on July 7, in which he is accused of physically assaulting a woman during an argument that began at the airport and escalated in a rental vehicle.
According to the police report, Judkins allegedly struck the woman in the mouth and chin with a closed fist, then hit her multiple times on the arm and thigh. The woman waited five days before contacting authorities, citing concerns about how the allegations might affect Judkins’ NFL career. She said in the 911 call that she has “a lot more of my story to tell.”
On top of his legal issues, Judkins is the only unsigned rookie in the NFL, complicating his situation. Berry did not sound confident that a resolution would come soon.
“In terms of those decisions, signing, being at camp and everything like that, it’s honestly probably too early to make any type of determination. So as we gather information, we’ll have a better view on that,” Berry said. “Sometimes the information comes a little bit more slowly, but we’re still in probably the information-gathering stage with him.”
Quinshon Judkins Likely Facing Suspension
Even if Judkins is signed, he’s expected to miss time. His legal situation remains unresolved, but a suspension appears likely. Under the NFL’s personal conduct policy, domestic violence incidents carry a baseline six-game suspension. However, the final length can vary depending on the findings of the investigation and any mitigating or aggravating circumstances.
Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com does not see Judkins avoiding punishment.
“When we heard and saw what allegedly happened and the description in the police report, I can’t see how the NFL isn’t going to suspend him,” Cabot said on the “Baskin & Phelps” show on 92.3 The Fan. “It’s really incredibly unfortunate. I don’t believe there were any red flags about anything of this sort heading in. If there were, they flew completely under the radar. I never saw anything at all about character concerns.”
The Browns’ first preseason game is slated for Aug. 8 against the Carolina Panthers. Cleveland first regular season game is on Sept. 7 against the Cincinnati Bengals.
J.R. DeGroote JR DeGroote is a staff writer for Heavy.com, where he has covered the NFL, NBA, and trending sports stories since 2019. His work focuses on some of the most passionate fanbases in sports, including reporting on the Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Lakers. More about J.R. DeGroote
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