The Cleveland Browns announced a change to their running back room, waiving Pierre Strong Jr. with an injury settlement.
Strong was among the players let go during the initial roster cut-down to 53 but reverted to injured reserve after he went unclaimed on waivers. He landed on injured reserve after suffering a concussion in the team’s preseason finale.
If Strong had remained on IR, it would have effectively ended his year before it began. However, the settlement will allow him to sign with another team once he completes the concussion protocol and is cleared to return to football activities.
Strong logged 26 carries for 108 yards and 14 catches for 104 yards last season with the Browns. He had a strong preseason and figured to be part of the rotation amid uncertainty surrounding second-round pick Quinshon Judkins. Strong had 18 carries for 114 yards in the preseason with the Browns — a solid 6.3 yards per carry average. He also caught five passes for 26 yards.
Browns Add Raheim Sanders to Run Game
Only two running backs made the initial 53-man roster for the Browns — Jerome Ford and rookie Dylan Sampson. That didn’t last long, with Cleveland adding undrafted rookie Raheim Sanders through waivers.
Sanders flashed with the Los Angeles Chargers during the preseason before being waived, demonstrating enough potential to earn a claim from the Browns. He played his college football at South Carolina and Arkansas. In 44 career college games, he rushed for 3,111 yards and 28 touchdowns.
“Very intelligent kid. He’s picking everything up very quickly,” head coach Kevin Stefanski said. “He’s working hard at it.”
Ford is expected to serve as the lead back for the Browns — a role he is familiar with. He’s logged 18 starts, rushing for 1390 yards and seven touchdowns during his time in Cleveland. Ford has also snagged 81 receptions for 544 yards and six more touchdowns.
“He’s a player who makes big plays. He has the speed to go the distance on any given time he touches the rock,” Stefanski said of Ford. “He’s kick returned for us when he hadn’t done in the past and develop and worked hard at that and developed into a good returner. So, he’s a guy that we can trust in the run game, trust in the pass game and has that elite trait of speed.”
Browns Rookie Quinshon Judkins Unlikely to See Field in Week 1
Judkins remains the only unsigned rookie in the NFL, a convoluted situation for Cleveland after selecting him at No. 36 overall. He initially held out seeking a guaranteed deal, a stance taken by several early second-round picks. But his July arrest further complicated matters, even after prosecutors declined to pursue charges.
Judkins was arrested on July 12 and charged with misdemeanor domestic battery in connection with an alleged incident involving his girlfriend. Prosecutors said they dropped the case after reviewing police reports, body-camera footage, surveillance video, photos, phone records and the sworn statement of the woman he allegedly struck.
Even if the Browns and Judkins were to reach an agreement this week, his chances of playing in Sunday’s opener are slim. He has missed all of training camp and preseason action, leaving him well behind on conditioning, game speed, and the playbook. In addition, the NFL is still investigating Judkins’ incident, which could lead to a suspension or being placed on the Commissioner’s Exempt List.
Cleveland opens its season on Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals.
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