Even with Nick Chubb back in action after missing time with injury, the Cleveland Browns lacked depth at running back, which was a problem for the team. That argument is no longer relevant.
Following what appeared to be a season-ending injury to Chubb’s left leg, backup running back Jerome Ford played well on Monday Night Football against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The MNF crew elected not to display the damage on video due to the grisly nature of the impact, therefore they could not show the injury on review. It is viewable in this location, by way of a post to X.
Broadcaster Troy Aikman indicated following Chubb’s injury that the Browns attempt to rejoin with former running back Kareem Hunt, who spent the last four seasons with the organization before leaving via free agency in March. While Ford is likely to be the immediate answer for Cleveland, Aikman suggested that the Browns look to reunite with Hunt.
In spite of the fact that there was some talk of the Browns and Hunt getting back together before to the start of the regular season, the Browns put an end to that idea during the summer.
Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com said on June 18: “I do think the Browns will add another running back before the season, but it won’t be a big-name back such as a Dalvin Cook or Ezekiel Elliott, and they won’t re-sign Kareem Hunt,” she said. “I do think the Browns will add another running back before the season,” she added. “I believe it will be a potential No. 3 running back behind Nick Chubb and Jerome Ford who can serve as a solid No. 2 in the event of an injury, and churn out 100 yards if both Chubb and Ford are injured,” said the analyst.
There is still some doubt as to whether or not Pierre Strong Jr. is that player. Even after the medical staff took Chubb off the field on Monday night, he only played a limited role for the team. On August 27, the Cleveland Browns made a deal with the New England Patriots to acquire Strong through a trade. As part of the transaction, the Browns sent offensive lineman Tyrone Wheatley Jr. to the Patriots.
The Browns, on the other hand, are fully aware of the player that they would be acquiring in Hunt if they were to bring him back into the fold. The player and the team got into a disagreement over money that led to a trade request prior to the 2022 season, and the fact that the player, who is now 28 years old, is still a free agent two games into the new season is probably due to the fact that the player is trying to get the best offer possible. The RB’s most recent contract, which was with the Browns and was worth $12 million over two years, came to an end this spring.
After serving as Chubb’s backup for four seasons, Hunt has a solid understanding of the system. According to Pro Football Reference, throughout that time period, Hunt rushed for a total of 1,874 yards and scored 16 touchdowns. In addition to this, he finished with 132 receptions, 973 receiving yards, and seven touchdowns. In 2017, while playing for the Kansas City Chiefs, Hunt rushed for a total of 1,327 yards, which was enough to win the NFL rookie rushing title.
Kareem Hunt’s signing would be a logical option for the Browns given Jerome Ford’s injury history and his lack of experience.
The Getty
After suffering a leg injury in Week 2, Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb is in danger of losing his starting job, and running back Jerome Ford is in position to take over.
Despite the fact that Ford appeared to be in great shape Monday night, he has a significant injury history despite having played in only 19 games since beginning his professional career.
Ford was the primary kickoff returner for the team in 2022, but he was forced to miss four games due to an ankle injury and was placed on the injured reserve list (IR). In addition, he was sidelined for a significant amount of time in August due to a hamstring injury that he sustained during the preseason.
Ford is now in his second season in the NFL after being selected by the Browns in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He recorded the longest run of his career, which was a 69-yarder that resulted in a touchdown and gave the Browns a lead of 22-19 at that point in the game. Ford had finished that stanza with a total of 77 yards gained through rushing on six runs and 25 yards gained through receiving on three receptions, including a score.
Max Dible writes for Heavy.com and covers teams such as the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears, Cleveland Browns, and Golden State Warriors. Before joining Heavy, he worked as a reporter for West Hawaii Today, where he covered both local and statewide news. Prior to that, he was the news director for BigIslandNow.com and the family of Big Island radio stations that are owned by Pacific Media Group. Extra information on Max Dible