The Cleveland Browns have been hit pretty hard by key injuries this season, something which somehow isn’t surprising, given the type of bad fortune that the franchise often seems to deal with.
Nick Chubb, arguably the best running back in the NFL, went down with a severe knee injury in Week 2 and is out for the year. Then in Week 7, backup running back Jerome Ford, who had been playing decently, suffered an ankle injury. Meanwhile, quarterback Deshaun Watson has been dealing with a shoulder injury, and his availability has been a subject of controversy.
But somehow, the Browns are a very respectable 4-2, and they’re winning the type of games they usually seem to lose. Against seemingly heavy odds, they have put themselves in the AFC playoff race, and depending on what happens with the Baltimore Ravens moving forward, they may even, dare we say it, have an outside shot at finishing first in the AFC North.
Cleveland is getting the job done with defense — going into Week 8, it ranked first in total yards allowed. But if it is to actually reach the postseason, it could use some more running back depth, and Bleacher Report suggested it make a trade for the Jacksonville Jaguars’ D’Ernest Johnson, who played for it the previous four seasons as a backup.
“If Watson is going to be less than 100 percent for an extended amount of time, then the running game becomes more important for the Browns,” wrote Bleacher Report. “Without Nick Chubb, the Browns need to have a rotation of backs who can make plays. Reuniting with D’Ernest Johnson would give them a familiar face that would form a strong trio with Kareem Hunt and Jerome Ford.”
Johnson has just seven carries for 27 yards this season. However, given the fact he was with the Browns from 2019 to 2022, he’s familiar with head coach Kevin Stefanski’s offensive scheme and he’s played with Watson and their strong offensive line.
Going after Johnson may not exactly be a splashy addition, but if Chubb will return to form once he makes a full recovery, perhaps a splashy addition isn’t needed, at least not at running back. In addition, since Travis Etienne is “the man” in the backfield for Jacksonville, perhaps it would be willing to deal Johnson to the Browns for a very reasonable price.
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