Browns Sign New RB After Jerome Ford Injury

Getty Images Head coach Kevin Stefanski of the Cleveland Browns. The team signed Jordan Wilkins following an injury to Jerome Ford.

The Cleveland Browns have signed Jordan Wilkins to the practice squad, adding depth with Jerome Ford banged up.

Ford is expected to miss a few weeks with an ankle injury he suffered against the Indianapolis Colts. The Browns’ second-year running back is dealing with a low-grade, high ankle sprain, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Ford took over the lead back duties when Nick Chubb was lost for the season in Week 2 to a knee injury. He leads the team in carries (78) and yards (344). He’s averaged 4.4 yards per carry this season.

Wilkins will join the practice squad but it’s likely that he’ll end up on the active roster once he’s up to speed. The Browns signed Deon Jackson to the active roster prior to facing the Colts but he was waived on Monday, October 23.

The former fifth-round pick is well-traveled, having played with the Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans. He’s appeared in 54 games with four starts in his career, all but one of those coming with the Colts. He’s totaled 1,009 yards rushing and four touchdowns in his career. Wilkins can also catch the ball out of the backfield, notching 41 catches for 262 yards.

Wilkins was a fifth-round pick in 2018 out of Missouri. Here’s what NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein had to say about Wilkins prior to the draft.

“Finesse runner with good size and great agility with the lateral agility to elude tacklers in the open field and the speed to make them feel it,” Zierlein wrote. “Wilkins lacks the aggressive running demeanor to take it to tacklers, but he does have moments of effectiveness along the interior thanks to his footwork and vision.”

Browns to Lean on Kareem Hunt With Ford Out

GettyRunning back Kareem Hunt of the Cleveland Browns.

With Ford on the shelf, more responsibility will fall on Kareem Hunt to carry the load. Hunt was signed by the Browns on September 21, shortly after Chubb was ruled out for the season.

The Browns have been getting Hunt back into game shape and he’s notched doubled-digit carries in the last two games. He has 32 carries for 103 yards and three touchdowns — two of which came against the Colts.

The Browns leaned on Hunt — who was dealing with a thigh injury — with the game on the line on fourth down. He bullied the ball into the end zone for what would be the game-winning touchdown.

“You know what I saw? You know what that one took? It took guts,” Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said. “Talk about guts. The old man was on one leg, and he was not going to be denied on that last play.”

Hunt has also caught five catches for 46 yards. He’ll have some help from Pierre Strong Jr., who is coming off a season-high eight carries. He’s averaged 4.9 yards per carry this season.

Browns Still Assessing Deshaun Watson’s Health

The run game will have elevated importance if quarterback Deshaun Watson misses any more time. Watson has been dealing with a rotator cuff strain and exited against the Colts after taking a hard hit.

His status for Sunday’s game against the Seattle Seahawks is questionable and the Browns are taking it one day at a time.

“I’m really day-to-day, as you can imagine,” Stefanski said. “I know that [you all are] probably sick of me saying that, but I just got to take the information every single day as we make decisions.”

Watson did not look good prior to exiting the game. He was just 1-of-5 for five yards with an interception and was missing the zip on his throws.