Cleveland Browns running back Jerome Ford may have played his final down for the franchise after landing on injured reserve this week with a shoulder injury, with just four games to play until the end of the season.
An IR designation requires that the player sit out at least four contests, which means Ford is done for the year as the Browns will not be participating in the playoffs come mid-January. Ford, a fifth-round pick in the 2022 NFL draft, is in his fourth season with Cleveland and will become a free agent next March.
The Browns drafted rookies Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson in the second and fourth rounds, respectively, and Judkins long ago supplanted Ford as the team’s RB1. Sampson is RB2 and Ford was sharing third-string duties with undrafted rookie Raheim Sanders.
Cleveland was clearly moving toward an offensive future without Ford, though the plan was to keep him rostered through the end of the year. Because of Ford’s injury, the Browns have reunited with Trayveon Williams, who spent the month of August with the team during the preseason and started the year on the practice squad before signing with the Los Angeles Chargers on October 22.
“#Browns signed running back Trayveon Williams off #Chargers practice squad, per source,” Aaron Wilson reported via X on Tuesday, December 9.
Williams, 28, is a seven-year NFL veteran who spent six years with the Cincinnati Bengals before his stint with L.A. He has appeared in 71 games but has never earned a start. Williams has played 322 offensive snaps over the course of his career and 911 snaps on special teams, primarily as a kick returner.
Ford was a regular kick returner (13 returns for 294 yards) in Cleveland this season, and Williams will presumably take over those duties.
Browns Sent Jerome Ford, Ethan Pocic to Injured Reserve This Week
GettyCenter Ethan Pocic of the Cleveland Browns.
Joining Ford on IR is Browns center Ethan Pocic, who has suffered a torn Achilles tendon. Due to injury issues, the Browns made a handful of roster moves on Tuesday.
Cleveland inked center Darrian Dalcourt to the practice squad along with defensive tackle Keith Cooper Jr. In corresponding moves, the Browns cut linebacker Mark Robinson and defensive end Ochaun Mathis from the practice squad.
Dalcourt landed with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted rookie last year. He has had stints on their practice squad, as well as those of the Carolina Panthers and Washington Commanders.
Cooper, also an undrafted rookie, initially joined the Detroit Lions this season and was a member of that franchise’s practice squad before landing in Cleveland Tuesday.
Remainder of Browns’ Season Is Fact-Finding Mission
GettyCleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
With a record of 3-10, the remainder of the Browns’ season is going to be a mixture of tryouts for longterm stints with the team and information gathering on the part of the coaching staff and front office.
Cleveland’s roster is particularly weak on the offensive line and at wide receiver. The team did a good job in the 2025 draft strengthening the defensive line and the middle of the defense in general, particularly at defensive tackle (Mason Graham) and linebacker (Carson Schwesinger).
The team also improved the running back position, while the Browns must decide whether to keep Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel or both at quarterback. That choice will be complicated by two first-round draft picks next April, Cleveland’s own (currently No. 4 overall) and one from the Jacksonville Jaguars (No. 27).
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