Jerome Ford 'Will Certainly Have Opportunities' During Second NFL Season

The Browns general manager and running backs coach have noted his growth in the 2023 NFL Offseason.

CINCINNATI — Jerome Ford was one of the most efficient kick returners in the NFL last season and now the Cleveland Browns running back has a clear path to a backfield role behind star Nick Chubb.

Kareem Hunt is out and the former Bearcat is tracking as the team's No. 2 running back. That's been a pretty solid role on the Browns' offense since Kevin Stefanski started coaching the team in 2020.

"Jerome's got a skillset that allows him to do anything and everything," run game coordinator/running backs coach Stump Mitchell told Browns.com writer Anthony Poisal after mandatory minicamp. "Pass protection, we worked a lot (on that) this spring, so that was the really the only thing we didn't really have a good handle on because he didn't do it a lot in college."

Ford only carried the ball eight times last season but he's in line for a lot more offensive touches in 2022 after rushing for over 1,300 yards in his final college season.

Hunt tallied 123 carries behind Chubb in 2022.

"Jerome, we thought, did a nice job for us his rookie year," Browns' general manager Andrew Berry said to Poisal. "His main contributions were really within the kicking game and carved out a nice role as a really strong kick returner for us. One of the things that drew us to Jerome throughout last year's draft process is his ability in the passing game, and he will certainly have opportunities going into his second year to potentially showcase those skills on a more extended level."

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