3 Free Agent Running Backs Browns Must Target Following Jerome Ford injury

The Browns have been hit hard by injuries lately with several players going down over the last week, including Greg Newsome II, Trysten Hill, Alex Wright, and others.

During Monday's practice, Cleveland suffered another significant injury when backup running back Jerome Ford hobbled off the field with a hamstring injury and exited with a trainer. Based on the video, it doesn't look great.

While the severity of Ford's injury is unclear, hamstring injuries are tricky and he could be looking at a significant absence. That would leave the Browns shorthanded at running back behind Nick Chubb, with only Demetric Felton and John Kelly under contract.

If Ford does miss time, expect Cleveland to pursue a free agent to help replace him on the depth chart. Here are three free agent RBs the Browns should pursue.

3 Free Agent RBs Browns Should Sign

1. Kareem Hunt

If Ford's injury is serious, a reunion with Hunt suddenly makes a lot more sense, especially if the front office wants to prioritize stability and certainty.

For starters, Hunt already knows the team's offense and is comfortable in Cleveland after spending the last four seasons there. He's been a great sidekick to Chubb during that time and would continue working well alongside him.

By the same token, the Browns know what they're getting in Hunt. There wouldn't be the same level of uncertainty that comes with signing a free agent who's never played for your organization before. The team already knows his medicals, performance metrics and everything else that's under the hood.

Given that Ford's injury has already happened after Cleveland's first preseason game, the team would need someone who can get up to speed relatively quickly. Hunt would be able to do that given his prior history with the team, making him an ideal match.

We'd have to move quickly, however, as Hunt visited the Saints on Monday night, so he may not be available for much longer.

2. Darrell Henderson Jr.

Another option for the Browns to consider is Henderson Jr.

There hasn't been a ton of interest in Henderson this summer with bigger names like Dalvin Cook, Ezekiel Elliott, Leonard Fournette and Hunt still on the board. That means Henderson should be relatively cheap, which is probably what Cleveland is looking for here.

Henderson was solid during his time with the Rams, flashing RB1 potential at times. The main issue with him is that he had trouble staying healthy, missing 12 games over the past two seasons combined. The important thing is that he's healthy now, though, which is when the Browns would need him the most.

That said, Henderson works well as a backup, as he's only started 28 of his 50 career games. He's also been effective on passing plays, averaging 7.2 yards per catch for his career so far. That makes him a good complement to Chubb -- who can handle the bulk of the carries -- and a decent replacement option if Chubb gets hurt as well.

He might not be the biggest name left on the market, but Henderson has a solid track record and could still make sense for Cleveland. He's also a Super Bowl champ, which fits into the culture that we're trying to build here.

3. J.D. McKissic

If the Browns are simply looking for a third-down back to team up with Chubb, they could do a lot worse than McKissic.

McKissic has excelled in that role for various teams over the years, most recently with the Commanders. During his three-year run with them, he averaged 50 catches and 386.3 receiving yards per season (7.7 yards per catch) with a 73.9% catch rate.

He can also run a bit, too (4.4 yards per carry), bringing some added flexibility to the offense.

McKissic is going to turn 30 later this month, so you'd get a guy who's fighting to stay in the league. He also understands his role at this point and does it well, so there shouldn't be any friction between him and Chubb.

He may not be a splashy name, but you more or less know what you're getting from McKissic at this stage of his career.

If you decide to bet on the Browns this season, one of the best ways to rack up extra cash is with Bet365's sign-up bonus. Win or lose, all you have to do is wager at least $1 on your first bet and you'll receive a guaranteed $200 bonus along with any cash winnings. Simply sign up through the exclusive Factory of Sadness link below, deposit at least $10 and start betting. This offer won't be around for long, though,so cash in now before the season gets here!

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.

21+ and present in OH. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER