Jerome Ford: Everything you need to know

Ford (shoulder) and the Commanders agreed to terms on a one-year contract Saturday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. Ford will call Washington his new home after spending the first four years of his NFL career in Cleveland. His most productive year with the Browns was in 2023, when he produced 1,132 yards from scrimmage and nine touchdowns across 17 regular-season games, though he served in a rotational role over the last two years. Ford will now join a Commanders backfield that also consists of Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Rachaad White.

The Browns placed Ford on injured reserve Tuesday due to a shoulder injury. Ford sustained the injury during the Browns' 31-29 loss to the Titans this past Sunday, when he played 19 total snaps (13 offense, six special teams). With just four games left on the Browns' schedule, Ford's 2025 campaign -- and perhaps his tenure in Cleveland -- will come to an end. The fourth-year running back was highly inefficient during the final season of his rookie deal, averaging 3.0 yards on 24 carries and 4.0 yards on 26 receptions while failing to find the end zone in 13 games. Ford's absence over the next four weeks could clear the way for Raheim Sanders to step in as the No. 3 running back behind fellow rookies Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson.

Ford caught two of three targets for 10 yards and returned five kickoffs for 113 yards in Sunday's 31-29 loss to Tennessee in Week 14. Ford was needed to fill in on kickoff returns after the team's primary returner, Malachi Corley (concussion), was removed from the contest and never returned. Ford, who has fallen behind Dylan Sampson in the running-back rotation, has seen an uptick in activity the last two games, garnering six targets, five catches and 27 receiving yards in addition to his work on special teams. He leads the backfield in targets (29) and catches (24).