After watching his teammate RB Nick Chubb exit the Browns' Week 15 loss to the Chiefs with a broken foot, RB Jerome Ford said he feels an added motivation to ending the 2024 season on a high note.
Ford and his fellow teammates want to support Chubb in any manner possible and believe they can do so through their approach to the final three games of the season.
"Making sure we finish out the season strong, just kind of taking it how he would and taking it day by day," Ford said. "Making sure we put the work in throughout the week so that we can get what we want on game day. Playing hard on Sundays and trying to win out."
Ford, who started the first six games of the 2024 season before Chubb made his debut in Week 7 against the Bengals, is in a familiar situation. In 2023, Ford's second year in the NFL, he took over as the Browns starting running back after Chubb suffered a severe knee injury in Week 2 against the Steelers.
Now, Ford will once again step up in place of the four-time Pro Bowl running back.
"It is really hard to see, seeing all the work that he's put in to be on the field and then him having to turn around and have another injury like this," Ford said. "It's sad to see and I know the type of guy Nick is, he's just back to work."
The last time Chubb ended his season early due to injury in 2023, Ford finished with 813 rushing yards and nine total touchdowns. This season, Ford has averaged 5.2 yards per carry, totaling 451 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Ford's first touchdown of the year came in Week 1, in the final seconds of the Browns' loss to the Cowboys.
Play-by-play action shots from the Cleveland Browns' Week 15 NFL game vs. the Kansas City Chiefs
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during a NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns on December 15, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Cornerback Myles Harden (26) during a NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns on December 15, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during a NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns on December 15, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during a NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns on December 15, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
The offense during a NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns on December 15, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Defensive end Sam Kamara (92) during a NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns on December 15, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during a NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns on December 15, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during a NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns on December 15, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) during a NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns on December 15, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during a NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns on December 15, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during a NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns on December 15, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Center Ethan Pocic (55) during a NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns on December 15, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during a NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns on December 15, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during a NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns on December 15, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during a NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns on December 15, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during a NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns on December 15, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Cornerback Cameron Mitchell (29) during a NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns on December 15, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during a NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns on December 15, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) during a NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns on December 15, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Safety Juan Thornhill (1) during a NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns on December 15, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during a NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns on December 15, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. (51) during a NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns on December 15, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during a NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns on December 15, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) during a NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns on December 15, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during a NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns on December 15, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Cornerback Myles Harden (26) during a NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns on December 15, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) and Center Ethan Pocic (55) during a NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns on December 15, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Running back Jerome Ford (34) during a NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns on December 15, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Offensive guard Joel Bitonio (75) during a NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns on December 15, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during a NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns on December 15, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Offensive guard Joel Bitonio (75) during a NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns on December 15, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Defensive end Isaiah McGuire (57) during a NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns on December 15, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during a NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns on December 15, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during a NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns on December 15, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Cornerback Cameron Mitchell (29) during a NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns on December 15, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson (94) during a NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns on December 15, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Running back Jerome Ford (34) during a NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns on December 15, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Running back Jerome Ford (34) during a NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns on December 15, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Cornerback Myles Harden (26) during a NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns on December 15, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during a NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns on December 15, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Safety Juan Thornhill (1) during a NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns on December 15, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Running back Jerome Ford (34) during a NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns on December 15, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. (51) during a NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns on December 15, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Tight end Jordan Akins (88) during a NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns on December 15, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during a NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns on December 15, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Cornerback Myles Harden (26) during a NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns on December 15, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. (51) during a NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns on December 15, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (23) during a NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns on December 15, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Cornerback Cameron Mitchell (29) during a NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns on December 15, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during a NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns on December 15, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) during a NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns on December 15, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during a NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns on December 15, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. (51) during a NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns on December 15, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Cornerback Myles Harden (26) during a NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns on December 15, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during a NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns on December 15, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during a NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns on December 15, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Safety Rodney McLeod Jr. (12) during a NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns on December 15, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. (51) during a NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns on December 15, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during a NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns on December 15, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Defensive tackle Jowon Briggs (97) during a NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns on December 15, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during a NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns on December 15, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Safety Juan Thornhill (1) and Cornerback Cameron Mitchell (29) during a NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns on December 15, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during a NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns on December 15, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Linebacker Mohamoud Diabate (43) during a NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns on December 15, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
Defensive end Cameron Thomas (99) during a NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns on December 15, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field.
His second touchdown of the season came in Week 15 against the Chiefs following Chubb's injury. The speedy running back took off for a 62-yard touchdown in the third quarter for the Browns' only points of the game.
"We had a couple reps of it in practice this week," Ford said. "The wide receivers and the offensive line did a great job of blocking it up. If you look at that film, it's just me running. I'm not touched at all. And that's pretty much on the offensive line and the wide receivers doing their job."
Ford finished the game with seven carries for 84 yards and a touchdown, adding two receptions for 20 yards. In addition to his work on the offense, Ford returned four kickoffs, taking one 45 yards to the Chiefs 49-yard line in the second quarter.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski wants to see more of what he saw in Week 15 from the third year running back.
"I thought he was really good," Stefanski said. "Obviously, gave us a spark in the kick return game. Gave us a spark on offense. So, it's just building on that. I thought his pass protection was good as well. So, another young player that will get a few more opportunities."
As Ford's opportunities increase over the remaining three games of the season, the young running back will rely on the lessons he's learned from Chubb over their three years as teammates.
Chubb is known throughout the locker room as a dedicated and unselfish worker. From his rookie year to his third season, Ford has taken note of Chubb's commitment to the daily grind of being an NFL starting running back.
He's also learned how to carry himself at practice, on the field and even off the field.
"Nick doesn't say a lot of things, but the way he works, the way he comes in, he sets his routine," Ford said. "Just seeing things like that from the meeting room, the way he takes notes, takes notes in every meeting room; he's been in the league for seven years, been in this offense for a long time. Just being able to see him operate on a daily basis. You ask him a question and he's like, 'Oh, you should do this and do that.' I think that has been a big help for me and I've been fortunate enough to have a vet like that."
