Cleveland Browns running back Jerome Ford suffered an injury during the team’s Week 6 contest against the Philadelphia Eagles, and he’s been out ever since. What’s the latest on Ford, and will he return in Week 9 when the Browns face the Los Angeles Chargers?
What Is Jerome Ford’s Injury?
On the second drive of the Browns’ Week 6 game against the Eagles, Ford limped off the field after an 11-yard carry with a hamstring injury. He was later ruled out for the remainder of the contest.
Jerome Ford #browns
Limps off the field after this play. Hard to see what happened. Hopefully minor pic.twitter.com/YqAX1vU6YT
— Tom Christ, PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT (@FantasyInjuryT) October 13, 2024
In addition to missing the majority of Week 6, Ford’s injured hamstring has also sidelined him for Cleveland’s last two games against the Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals.
Is Ford Playing in Week 9?
Shortly after the injury, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters that Ford is week-to-week, which lines up with his current recovery timeline.
It’s unclear if he’ll be able to play in Week 9 when the Browns face the Chargers. Last week, Ford missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday, but he was able to get in a limited session on Friday, which is a good sign for his availability.
Keep an eye on Cleveland’s practice reports throughout the week to see Ford’s involvement. If he’s able to get in a full practice or even multiple limited sessions, perhaps he’ll be able to return.
Also, be sure to check the Browns’ injury report on Friday to see if he has an injury designation for Sunday’s game.
How Might Ford’s Absence Impact the Browns if Ruled Out?
Ford entered Week 6 as the Browns’ leading rusher with 250 yards on 48 attempts (5.2 yards-per-carry average) and one touchdown. He was filling in for Nick Chubb, who was working his way back from a torn ACL and meniscus that he suffered in Week 2 of last season.
However, right when Ford got hurt, Chubb was ready to return the following week, so the former’s absence hasn’t been too big of a deal for Cleveland. Chubb is clearly the RB1 on this team.
Nick Chubb shedding 355-pound NT Michael Pierce is cool to see. Plus these other runs. He looks pretty good! pic.twitter.com/njI7ibfjbP
— Hayden Winks (@HaydenWinks) October 28, 2024
Initially, it was unclear what kind of workload Chubb would have early on, but the Browns have been ramping up his usage, giving him 11 carries in his first game back and 16 carries in Week 8.
Once Ford returns, he’ll likely mix in occasionally to spell Chubb, similar to what D’Onta Foreman and Pierre Strong Jr. have been doing over the last two weeks. But from a fantasy standpoint, Chubb is clearly the RB to have in this backfield.
While Ford was a serviceable Flex option early in the season, he no longer has any standalone value. However, fantasy managers shouldn’t drop him, as he’s still a valuable handcuff.
If Chubb gets injured again, Ford would once again be playable (especially since Cleveland’s offense looked significantly better this week after starting Jameis Winston rather than Deshaun Watson, who recently suffered a ruptured Achilles).
While Ford hasn’t looked amazing, there’s a path to work, and he’s proven to be serviceable in Chubb’s absence. Also, the Browns face the Bengals and Dolphins during the fantasy playoffs. The small chance that he is the lead back at the perfect time is enough to warrant holding him.
As long as Ford is sidelined, expect Chubb to continue getting the bulk of the work. Once Ford is back, perhaps Cleveland will make this an 80/20 or 70/30 split. If Ford misses another game, Foreman and Strong may get a few carries here and there, but neither is fantasy-relevant.
It’s worth noting that the Browns’ backfield has a really tough Week 9 matchup, as the Chargers are giving up the second-fewest fantasy points per game to running backs (11.8) this season.
