Ford’s Injury Muddies Cleveland’s RB Situation
Photo Credit: Corey Petrine via USA TODAY Sports
Nick Chubb might just be the league’s best running back, but he’s heading into a unique situation entering the 2023 season.
For years, the Cleveland Browns boasted one of the league’s best one-two punches at running back between Chubb and Kareem Hunt. With Cleveland’s seemingly endless question marks at the quarterback position, a strong running game was the offense’s best friend.
While Chubb will once again be a threat on the ground, he won’t have his running mate this season. Reports from Tuesday have Hunt visiting with the New Orleans Saints, who need a little extra help in the rushing game with star Alvin Kamara suspended, as well as the Indianapolis Colts, who are in a public dispute with their RB1.
Hunt’s absence means new opportunities for Chubb in the passing game, who is skilled in that area but not always called on as a pass-catcher. But Chubb can’t do it all. Cleveland seemed content heading into the season with second-year back Jerome Ford and 2021 sixth-rounder Demetric Felton. But Ford suffered a hamstring injury on Monday. We aren’t sure how much time Cleveland’s apparent RB2 will be out. Do the Browns need to make an urgent signing, or can Chubb and Felton weather the storm?
Hunt’s absence leaves a significant amount of snaps available. Hunt played in all 17 games last year and accounted for 42% of offensive snaps. While 2022 wasn’t Hunt’s most efficient year, he still wracked up 468 yards and three touchdowns on the ground and 221 yards and one TD by air. In his best season with Cleveland, 2020, he accounted for 841 yards and six TDs by rush and 304 yards and five aerial TDs. The Browns love a strong rushing attack, and there’s a big opportunity for the next man up.
It looked like Ford would be the primary benefactor of Hunt’s departure. Despite being a relative unknown—Ford has just 14 offensive snaps under his belt—the team clearly likes what they have in the second year back.
The Browns didn’t draft a running back in 2023, nor did they invest in the free-agent market. Even with the team fully in win-now mode and a variety of big-name players available thanks to a fickle running back market, they’ve treated Ford as RB2 and have him listed as such on the first unofficial depth chart.
Ford was having a good offseason until Monday’s hamstring injury. Hamstring injuries are notoriously hard to predict, so we aren’t sure how much time Ford will miss, but it’s a shame he’ll need to catch up.
With Ford out, Felton looks to see the majority of preseason snaps.
Felton was impressive in last week’s Hall of Fame game, totaling seven rushes for 46 yards, including a 16-yard touchdown. The speedy back looked fast, confident, and efficient and is in line for a bigger role this season after minimal use in 2022.
But it’s a lot to ask for Felton to handle the full load of RB2 duties if Ford’s injury lingers. Hassan Hall and John Kelly Jr. are the only two other running backs on the roster.
Cleveland may have to dive into free agency to keep the stable loaded for at least the early part of the season. Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot expected the Browns to add another running back in the mix even before Ford’s injury, but she didn’t expect one of the bigger name backs like Ezekiel Elliot or Dalvin Cook to be in consideration.
Even with Ford injured, that doesn’t seem likely to change. The Browns want to give Ford every opportunity to embrace the RB2 role, and he’ll be back in the lineup at some point.
But bringing in someone to play RB3 and step in for Ford in the meantime is a smart move. The Browns need someone who can step in and play if Chubb or Ford miss more time, and while we expect Chubb to play a bigger role in the passing game this season, adding a pass-catching back seems like a smart move.
Bleacher Report’s Jake Rill suggested J.D. McKissic, most recently of the Washington Whatevertheyarecalleds, as an ideal free agent signing. McKissic is a true dual-threat running back with 1,159 receiving yards over the past few seasons. The 29-year-old would add another dimension to the Browns offense and bring in some potential trickery. McKissic wouldn’t overshadow the team’s top two backs but could handle a larger workload if needed.
A best-case scenario might limit how much time Ford misses, but either way, bringing in another back seems like a wise move for the hopeful franchise. The team’s strong offensive line can elevate the running game, and making Watson’s life easier is a priority as he re-adjusts to full-time quarterback play.
A Nick Chubb-led rushing attack is still potent no matter who the RB2 is, but getting the four-time Pro Bowler some help is vital. Jerome Ford is the Browns’ favorite option behind Chubb, but they’ll need to consider other options if the sophomore back misses too much time.
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