The Cleveland Browns have struggled as the worst offensive team in football, and things could deteriorate further following the latest injury update on Jerome Ford.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed, via Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN, that Ford is now listed as week-to-week with a hamstring injury. Ford exited in the first quarter of the Browns’ 20-16 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Ford had been stepping in for the injured Nick Chubb, and in the first six weeks of the season, he accumulated 264 rushing yards and a touchdown. While he averaged 5.3 yards per carry, Ford didn’t surpass 100 rushing yards in any of his starts. With Chubb nearing a return, Ford’s role in the offense remains uncertain. Nonetheless, Ford proved to be a capable starter and will be a significant loss for Cleveland.
If Chubb is unavailable for Week 7, D’Onta Foreman and Pierre Strong will likely lead the rushing attack. However, Ford had not carried the ball more than 12 times in any game as a starter. For the Browns to develop a strong running game, their overall offensive performance needs to improve.
In 2024, Cleveland has ranked last in the league, averaging just 240.2 yards per game. Despite Deshaun Watson’s struggles, Stefanski has stuck with him at quarterback, but now the coach has no choice but to adjust the running back position following Ford’s injury.
With the loss to the Eagles, the Browns fell to 1-5 on the season, having lost four consecutive games. Their only win came in Week 2 against the 1-5 Jacksonville Jaguars.
Cleveland must find solutions quickly, as losing their starting running back only adds to the team’s growing list of issues in 2024.
