The Browns placed Strong (concussion) on injured reserve Friday. D'Onta Foreman and John Kelly will handle backfield duties for Cleveland's Week 18 finale. Strong's 2024 season ends with 26 carries for 108 scoreless yards and 14-104-0 receiving on 22 targets as the Browns' third running back for much of the year. The 2022 fourth-round pick is currently under contract for a non-guaranteed salary of $1.1 million next season, the final year of his rookie deal.
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Status
IR - Concussion - Concussion Expected Return: 2025-02-10Latest Pierre Strong news
Other Browns Players
Team
Cleveland Browns
Birthdate
12/10/1998 (26)
Status
Injured Reserve
HT/WT
5'11", 215 lbs
Draft Info
2022: Rd 4; Pk (NE)
Birthplace
Little Rock, AR, USA
Position
RB
College
South Dakota State
Experience
3 seasons
Career History
Cleveland Browns
2023-Present
(2 seasons)
New England Patriots
2022-2023
(2 seasons)
The Browns placed Strong (concussion) on injured reserve Friday. D'Onta Foreman and John Kelly will handle backfield duties for Cleveland's Week 18 finale. Strong's 2024 season ends with 26 carries for 108 scoreless yards and 14-104-0 receiving on 22 targets as the Browns' third running back for much of the year. The 2022 fourth-round pick is currently under contract for a non-guaranteed salary of $1.1 million next season, the final year of his rookie deal.
Strong (concussion) is out for Saturday's game against the Ravens, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports. Strong will sit out just his third game of the season in Week 18 due to a concussion he suffered Sunday versus the Dolphins. He will finish the 2024 season with 26 carries for 108 yards and 14 receptions for 104 yards.
Strong (concussion) did not participate at practice Wednesday, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports. Strong suffered a concussion during Sunday's game versus the Dolphins, and now his availability for Week 18 is in jeopardy. He'll likely have to practice Thursday or Friday to be able to suit up Saturday at Baltimore.
Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said Tuesday that Strong is in the NFL's concussion protocol after he exited in the final two minutes of Sunday's 20-3 loss to the Dolphins to be evaluated for a head injury, Ashley Bastock of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports. Strong won't practice Tuesday and could face an uphill battle to clear the five-step protocol on a short week, as the Browns will close their season with a Saturday game in Baltimore. After starting running back Jerome Ford left this past Sunday's game in the second quarter with an ankle injury, Strong was tasked with his biggest workload of the season, finishing the day with five carries for 33 yards and three catches for 15 yards on five targets. With both Ford and Strong banged up, D'Onta Foreman and John Kelly are the only healthy running backs on the Browns' 53-man roster at this stage of the week.
Strong carried five times for 33 yards and caught three of five targets for 15 yards in Sunday's 20-3 loss to the Dolphins. This was the most volume Strong has seen since Week 5. Jerome Ford sustained an ankle injury and was limited to 15 snaps, opening opportunities for Strong and D'Onta Foreman. That duo could operate as the main backs in Week 18 against the Ravens. Even if Ford's health improves enough to be an option, head coach Kevin Stefanski may not want to use the only running back signed through next season in such a meaningless game.
Strong had two carries for six yards and caught both of his targets for three yards in Sunday's 24-6 loss to Cincinnati. This was the first game after a foot injury forced Nick Chubb to injured reserve. Jerome Ford capably handled the lead-back role, while Strong and D'Onta Foreman worked as depth options. Foreman, who hadn't played since Week 8, entered on Cleveland's first drive, had two red-zone carries, and lost a fumble at the goal line. That was the end of his day, as Strong operated as the top backup the rest of the way. Strong's two carries were his first since Week 11, and his 13 snaps his biggest workload since Week 8.
Strong will serve as the backup running back Sunday against the Bengals. With Nick Chubb (foot) on season-ending injured reserve, Jerome Ford becomes the lead runner, with Strong and D'Onta Foreman getting evaluation opportunities over the final three weeks, per Zac Jackson of The Athletic. Strong is under contract for next season while Foreman is not. When both Chubb and Ford were healthy over the last six games, Strong had just four carries for 13 yards and two catches (two targets) for nine yards.
Strong had two carries for five yards in Sunday's 35-14 loss to New Orleans in Week 11. Strong was given garbage-time work, getting both touches on the team's final drive. He's had pockets of high usage this season, when filling in for the injured Nick Chubb or Jerome Ford, but both of them are back. Strong has just seven touches over the last three weeks.
Strong had two carries for eight yards in Sunday's 27-10 loss to the Chargers. He also returned two kickoffs for 47 yards. Strong dropped a rung on the backfield depth chart with the return of Jerome Ford from a hamstring injury, working behind Nick Chubb and Ford and seeing his opportunities diminish. For Strong to have a significant backfield role, the Browns might have to decide to blow up the roster ahead of Tuesday's trade deadline and deal Chubb, who is operating on a one-year deal.