Browns sign running back Kareem Hunt

Kareem Hunt (Erik Drost, Wikimedia Commons)

According to Jeff Kerr of CBS Sports on Wednesday, the Cleveland Browns have signed running back Kareem Hunt of Willoughby, Ohio to a one-year contract worth $4 million. The reason for the signing is because the Browns were in need of a running back after Nick Chubb of Cedartown, Georgia had a season ending knee injury on Monday night where he tore multiple ligaments. 

Hunt was with the Browns in 2022, and even requested a trade. However, his trade request was denied during training camp. Hunt had 123 carries for 468 rushing yards and three touchdowns in 2022, and had 35 receptions for 210 receiving yards and one touchdown catch. The touchdown reception came in the Browns’s opening game of the season, a 26-24 Cleveland win over the Carolina Panthers. In this game, Hunt actually had two major scores. In addition to a one-yard touchdown catch from quarterback Jacoby Brissett of West Palm Beach, Florida, he had a 24-yard rush for a touchdown.

Hunt became a free agent in the offseason, after the Browns decided not to re-sign him at the time. He had meetings with the Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts. The Vikings were in need of running back depth after releasing Dalvin Cook in June. The Colts meanwhile have a running back issue themselves as Jonathan Taylor has an ankle ailment and is in a contract dispute.

It is expected that Hunt will be behind Jerome Ford of Tampa, Florida on the Browns depth chart. Ford had 106 rushing yards on Sunday in the Browns’s loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on  Monday night.

Prior to his four seasons with the Cleveland Browns, Hunt spent two seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs. In 2017 as a rookie, he was selected to the Pro Bowl and led the NFL with 1327 rushing yards. Hunt finished behind Saints running back Alvin Kamara of Atlanta, Georgia in Associated Press Rookie of the Year voting.

Fill In The Form Below To Receive Our NFL News Straight To Your Email For FREE!