The Cleveland Browns lost their starting running back Nick Chubb during their 26-22 loss against the Pittsburgh Steelers in week 6, who has been a cornerstone of the franchise’s offense since 2018. The veteran is done for the season due to the season-ending knee injury and is currently waiting to have surgery on his ACL in the coming weeks.
With a 4-2 mark and third spot in the AFC North division, the Browns are struggling to keep their hope of a playoff run alive and have been banking on RB2 Jerome Ford in the absence of Chubb. Now, the running back has also fallen prey to injury and is likely to miss the field for a while.
Jerome Ford expected to miss 1-2 weeks
When NFL player Nick Chubb was forced to leave the field with uncontrollable pain in Week 2, Ford stepped in his spot magnificently, rushing for 106 yards on 16 carries. However, little did he know that a similar setback was going to hit him as well.
During the Cleveland Browns’ 39-38 win over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, the veteran running back sprained his ankle in the fourth quarter and limped off the field. He was unable to return to the game, having racked up 74 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries before exiting the field. According to NFL insider Adam Schefter, the RB has been diagnosed with a ‘low-grade, high ankle’ injury following an MRI and is expected to be sidelined for 1 to 2 weeks.
The second-year, fifth-round pick leads the Browns with 344 rushing yards this season and also scored four total touchdowns as of now. Even when the team gave an upsetting defeat to the formerly undefeated San Francisco 49ers, he rushed for 84 yards on 17 carries.
In the vet’s absence, the franchise would be banking on former league rushing champion Kareem Hunt, whom they re-signed shortly after Chubb’s injury. They also have Pierre Strong Jr. as an RB on the active roster.
What is Jerome Fordâs contract with the Browns?
Ford signed a 4-year, $3,982,148 contract with the Browns in May 2022. His deal includes a $322,148 signing bonus and $322,148 in guaranteed money, along with an average annual salary of $995,537. The 5-foot-10 and 210-pound star is set to earn $870,000 in base salary this year while carrying a cap hit of $950,537 along with $241,611 in dead cap value.
The 24-year-old’s base salary for 2022 was $705,000, with $799,811 as a cap hit value. He was selected by the Browns with the No. 156 overall selection in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He ranks 84 among the RBs and 48 among the Browns players in terms of financial earnings, via Spotrac.
What’s your take on Ford’s recent performance? Tell us in the comments.
