What To Expect From Jerome Ford This Season

Ford was a significant contributor to the Bearcats’ excellent 2021 season.

Last year, Cincinnati became the first non-Power Five team to make the College Football Playoff.

While the team ultimately lost to Alabama in the semi-finals, it likely wouldn’t have found itself playing the Crimson Tide without Ford.

In fact, Ford was initially recruited by and played for the Crimson Tide, a testament to his talent coming out of high school.

But Ford made a name for himself at Cincinnati, where he garnered at least some mild Heisman chatter during his final collegiate season.

Ford’s strong play on Friday likely eased any concerns about the running back rotation’s long-term success.

Even with Johnson and Hunt potentially departing next summer (or sooner), the team can afford to stand pat with a young (and inexpensive) back behind starter Nick Chubb.

Projections 

Here’s why projecting Ford’s season is difficult: he might see plenty of time in the preseason, but come the regular season, the Browns may go with Hunt and Johnson over Ford on the depth chart.

In fact, the only way Ford might see any meaningful time is if Hunt is traded away.

Even then, the Browns could deploy Johnson as the team’s official backup.

But last season, the third-stringer Johnson managed a strong showing after Hunt went down with an injury.

What’s stopping Ford from stepping up and doing the same?

Instead of an injury forcing the Browns to feed Ford, perhaps Ford’s strong play in the preseason makes the Browns think twice before sitting him out.

And if an injury does come for the oft-out Hunt, Ford could conceivably leapfrog Johnson as the team’s backup.

Especially given Ford’s demonstrated dual-threat abilities.

If injuries to guys like David Bell and Anthony Schwartz persist, Ford might be a decent stop-gap option in the slot.

In short, Ford might be forcing the Browns to give him time this season.