Browns Running Back Room Outlook with the Season Quickly Approaching
Injury Bug Has Hit the Position Group Once Again
The Browns running backs were one of the main questions heading into training camp. Now, that question may be even more relevant and have more answers than before. When healthy, running back Nick Chubb was arguably the best in the entire league. Injuries have haunted his impact on the team and allowed others to try and pick up the load. That is a ver hard thing to do though, and the team made some moves this offseason that changed the Browns running backs outlook for the season. Here are a few updates on the Browns running backs with around a month before the first game.
Nick Chubb Injury Looming
Nick Chubb started last season strong and was the obvious leader out of the Browns running backs group. In the opener, he had 106 rushing yards and averaged 5.9 per carry in a blowout win. He followed that up with a solid 64 rushing yards on ten carries, including a 20-yard run during his stint in the second game before injury.
A bad hit and gruesome injury to his knee knocked Chubb out indefinitely and through the rest of the season. The Browns managed to get enough production from their offense and leaned on the defense to get to 11 wins and a playoff berth. Recent reports have stated Chubb will be activated at some point this camp. Videos have shown the star of the Browns making progress in workouts, however, a return to game action will likely loom weeks into the season. Barring any setbacks, Chubb should slowly regain the reins of the Browns running back room a month or more into the season.
D’Onta Foreman Suffers Scary Injury
The Browns signed D’Onta Foreman to a one-year deal this offseason after losing their goalline back Kareem Hunt. Foreman was expected to have a similar role and be third or fourth on the depth chart with his work coming in the red zone. Foreman had 425 rushing yards and four touchdowns with the Bears last season. The Browns will be his fifth different team in his seventh professional season. An addition that adds stability to the room, Foreman suffered an unfortunate injury at training camp.
Foreman was carted off the field and transported to a nearby hospital last week after suffering a blow to the head. This caused neck pain, but he had movement in his extremities which was a welcoming sign. He was recently released from the hospital, and more news will follow regarding his status. To start the season, it looks like the Browns running backs could be down to just two main guys.
Outlook to Start the Season for the Browns Running Backs
Jerome Ford took over when Nick Chubb went down early in the season and helped the running back room stay afloat. Ford played in all 17 games and had 204 carries for 813 rushing yards and four touchdowns. He also had 44 receptions for 319 rushing yards and five touchdowns.
With 69 days till #Browns kickoff, here’s the longest run of Jerome Ford’s career-69 yards
That Ford can run #Dawgpound
pic.twitter.com/kp3rrS9IUb— Mac🦬 (@tha_buffalo) July 1, 2024
His four yards per carry weren’t anything to be ecstatic about, but Ford showed some promise in an unpredicted starter role for nearly the entirety of the 2023 season. After only a handful of carries in year one, he is now ready to lead the backfield until Chubb is ready as his third year gets underway. Pierre Strong Jr. is also heading into his third year and is in his second year with the Browns. He had 291 rushing yards and one touchdown with the team last season, with 65 of those yards coming in the season finale which saw a lot of players rest for the postseason. He will likely fill in the backup spot for the Browns running backs to start the year as Chubb and Foreman recover, and could be a change of pace back on drives.
Another Addition
The Browns also signed running back Nyheim Hines this offseason, who is entering his sixth professional season. Hines has more targets than carries, and way more receiving yards than rushing in his career. He will be a good pass-catching running back for the team and has experience returning punts and some kickoffs.
When Nyheim Hines ran it back for Demar 🥹 pic.twitter.com/3fNNFBM5t4
— Football’s Greatest Moments (@FBGreatMoments) August 6, 2024
Hines is a great addition and will use his hands to catch and field returns. Hines may enter the year as the third option behind Ford and Strong Jr. The trio of healthy guys must help out the offense until Chubb is back. If they can, the Browns should be able to win some games and return to the playoffs.
Main Photo: [Sam Greene/The Enquirer] – USA Today Sports
