The Cleveland Browns have worked through their players’ jersey number conundrum. On May 18, the Browns revealed that wide receiver KC Concepcion will have a new number this season. With that, Quinshon Judkins reverted to his old number.

On May 17, Concepcion walked into the NFLPA Rookie Premiere wearing a No.1 jersey after he practiced with No.17 on his back during the rookie minicamp.

According to a report by Browns Wire, the “rumors” around running back Judkins have disappeared.

“With Concepcion taking the number 1, this left Judkins to take back his old No. 10,” Cory Kinnan wrote on May 19. He suggested that there were two ways this conclusion was reached. 

Concepcion, 21, who picked 24th overall from Texas A&M, has “first-round money” when pitted against Judkins, the 36th overall, second-round pick. Or Judkins, who is a senior to Concepcion and played as No.10, followed the rules and paid either his franchise or the NFL to reclaim the number. 

While the tug between Judkins and Concepcion appears to have been settled, there is another player whose jersey number is unconfirmed.

According to another report by Browns Wire by Owen O’Connor, Judkins was reportedly to switch from No.10 to No.1 this season. The reports began circulating as linebacker Justin Jefferson appeared in the minicamp wearing No. 10. 

While numbers keep rotating, a former player has acknowledged this development.

Former NFL Player With An Iconic Jersey Wishes Well For KC Concepcion 

After wearing No.17 during his rookie minicamp, Cleveland Browns’ rookie wide receiver KC Concepcion wore the No.1 jersey in the 2026 NFLPA Rookie Premiere.

This development is a significant one, as former wide receiver Chad Johnson pointed out, too.

“Heavy is the crown wearing that uno. Give ‘em h***,” he replied to a Browns’ X post sharing the switch.

Johnson’s remark about Concepcion’s jersey is significant as he wore No.85 throughout his 11-year NFL career.

The number became so integral to the wide receiver’s identity that he changed his last name to “Ochocinco” (Spanish for “eight” “five”) in 2008 when he played for the Cincinnati Bengals.

There is a list of big names who have worn the No.1 jersey. Super Bowl-winning quarterback Jalen Hurts is one of them, and so is Green Bay Packers’ Micah Parsons. He donned the number after he was traded from the Dallas Cowboys. 

If Concepcion has to beat a counterpart, it is the veteran wide receiver, Ja'Marr Chase. He ended the 2025 season with 125 receptions for the Bengals.

Concepcion enters his first NFL season carrying high expectations along with the legacy of his new number.
Are you excited for him? Tell us in the comments.

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Written by

Akanksha Biradar