The Cleveland Browns have signed Jordan Wilkins to the practice squad, adding depth with Jerome Ford banged up.
Ford is expected to miss a few weeks with an ankle injury he suffered against the Indianapolis Colts. The Browns’ second-year running back is dealing with a low-grade, high ankle sprain, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Ford took over the lead back duties when Nick Chubb was lost for the season in Week 2 to a knee injury. He leads the team in carries (78) and yards (344). He’s averaged 4.4 yards per carry this season.
Wilkins will join the practice squad but it’s likely that he’ll end up on the active roster once he’s up to speed. The Browns signed Deon Jackson to the active roster prior to facing the Colts but he was waived on Monday, October 23.
The former fifth-round pick is well-traveled, having played with the Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans. He’s appeared in 54 games with four starts in his career, all but one of those coming with the Colts. He’s totaled 1,009 yards rushing and four touchdowns in his career. Wilkins can also catch the ball out of the backfield, notching 41 catches for 262 yards.
Wilkins was a fifth-round pick in 2018 out of Missouri. Here’s what NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein had to say about Wilkins prior to the draft.
“Finesse runner with good size and great agility with the lateral agility to elude tacklers in the open field and the speed to make them feel it,” Zierlein wrote. “Wilkins lacks the aggressive running demeanor to take it to tacklers, but he does have moments of effectiveness along the interior thanks to his footwork and vision.”
With Ford on the shelf, more responsibility will fall on Kareem Hunt to carry the load. Hunt was signed by the Browns on September 21, shortly after Chubb was ruled out for the season.
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