Can you believe it? Training camp is just overone week away. It's been another busy offseason for the Browns, and we'll start seeing how all the new and refined pieces come together very soon. We're preparing for it all with a comprehensive preview of every position on the roster,rolling next with the running backs.
The Running Backs
Nick Chubb
Jerome Ford
Demetric Felton Jr.
John Kelly Jr.
Hassan Hall
Nate McCrary
Check out the best photos of four-time Pro Bowl RB Nick Chubb from the 2022 season
Running back Nick Chubb (24) before a NFL football game between the New York Jets and Cleveland Browns on on September 18, 2022 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns lost 31-30.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) during a NFL football game between the New York Jets and Cleveland Browns on on September 18, 2022 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns lost 31-30.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens on October 23, 2022 at M&T Bank Stadium. The Browns lost 23-20.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) before a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Washington Commanders on January 1, 2023 at FedEx Field. The Browns won 24-10.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Washington Commanders on January 1, 2023 at FedEx Field. The Browns won 24-10.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) during a NFL football game between the New Orleans Saints and Cleveland Browns on December 24, 2022 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns lost 10-17.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) before a NFL football game between the New Orleans Saints and Cleveland Browns on December 24, 2022 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns lost 10-17.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers on January 8, 2023 at Acrisure Stadium. The Browns lost 14-28.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) during a NFL football game between the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns on December 17, 2022 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 13-3.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals on December 11, 2022 at Paycor Stadium. The Browns lost 23-10.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Houston Texans on December 4, 2022 at NRG Stadium. The Browns won 27-14.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) before a NFL football game between the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns on December 17, 2022 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 13-3.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Houston Texans on December 4, 2022 at NRG Stadium. The Browns won 27-14.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) before a NFL football game between the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns on December 17, 2022 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 13-3.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) during a NFL football game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Cleveland Browns on November 27, 2022 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 23-17.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) during a NFL football game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Cleveland Browns on November 27, 2022 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 23-17.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) and Running back Jerome Ford (34) before a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Houston Texans on December 4, 2022 at NRG Stadium. The Browns won 27-14.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) during a NFL football game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Cleveland Browns on November 27, 2022 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 23-17.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Buffalo Bills on November 20, 2022 at Ford Field. The Browns lost 23-31.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Carolina Panthers on September 11, 2022 at Bank of America Stadium. The Browns won 26-24.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Miami Dolphins on November 13, 2022 at Hard Rock Stadium. The Browns lost 17-39.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Buffalo Bills on November 20, 2022 at Ford Field. The Browns lost 23-31.
Dolphins linebacker Bradley Chubb (2) and Running back Nick Chubb (24) after a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Miami Dolphins on November 13, 2022 at Hard Rock Stadium. The Browns lost 17-39.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Miami Dolphins on November 13, 2022 at Hard Rock Stadium. The Browns lost 17-39.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Atlanta Falcons on October 2, 2022 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The Browns lost 20-23.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on Monday Night Football on October 31, 2022 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 13-32.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) before a NFL football game between the New England Patriots and Cleveland Browns on October 16, 2022 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns lost 38-15.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on Monday Night Football on October 31, 2022 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 13-32.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on Monday Night Football on October 31, 2022 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 13-32.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens on October 23, 2022 at M&T Bank Stadium. The Browns lost 23-20.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) before a NFL football game between the New England Patriots and Cleveland Browns on October 16, 2022 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns lost 38-15.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) before a NFL football game between the Los Angeles Chargers and Cleveland Browns on October 9, 2022 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns lost 30-28.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) during a NFL football game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns on Thursday Night Football on September 22, 2022 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 29-17.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) before a NFL football game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns on Thursday Night Football on September 22, 2022 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 29-17.
What we know: This will be the first year the Browns enter a season without both Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt since 2018, which was Chubb's rookie season. Ford, a fifth-round pick in 2022, is in line to absorb some of the snap totals that Hunt would typically carry, and the Browns have confidence in Ford to become a reliable backup rusher after he was mainly limited to kickoff return duties last year, a job he handled well. Felton will also be a player worth watching in training camp — after mainly being used as a receiver his first two NFL seasons, he'll attempt to crack a roster spot in training camp by solidifying a backup role in the RB room.
What we don't know: How might the rushing game change — if at all — with QB Deshaun Watson set to start the full season? The Browns are tweaking their playbook to better aid Watson after how he performed in his six starts last season, and it remains to be seen how the rushing plans could be affected by any offensive alterations. It's still a surefire bet, though, that Chubb will receive ample carries, and any other big questions about the group pertain to how Ford will follow behind him as he steps into the No. 2 role in the room. Ford's rushing sample size last season was very small as he carried the ball only eight times for 12 yards, but he's only two years removed from a 1,319-yard season in his final college year at Cincinnati. More opportunities could be all Ford needs to establish himself.
The X-Factor: Chubb, who could be in for his biggest workload in a season yet depending on how much the Browns incorporate Ford into their rushing plans. Having a player of Hunt's caliber to allow Chubb to catch his breath during games was certainly a benefit for Chubb, but he's also proven more than capable of succeeding when carrying the bulk of rushing totals during entire games, too. He hasn't missed a Pro Bowl the last four years, and the Browns need him to produce at those levels again regardless of any changes installed in the playbook.
The biggest number: 302. That was how many rushing attempts Chubb had last year, which was a career-high, and it resulted in another career-high of 1,525 yards. Chubb was tied for seventh among running backs last year with five yards per carry and showed no signs of slowing down despite the increased workload.
Says it all: "Jerome's got a skillset that allows him to do anything and everything. 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 … 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." - RB coach Stump Mitchell on Ford
How many were kept on the initial 53-man roster last year?: 5
