Browns running back Jerome Ford accepted a pay cut Friday, perhaps signaling the end of Nick Chubb’s tenure, Cleveland.com reported.
Ford agreed to reduce his 2025 salary from $3.486 million to a guaranteed $1.75 million, according to the report.
The return of Chubb, who is unsigned, is “largely dependent on whether or not Ford accepted the pay cut or was traded to another team,” per the report.
Ford, 25, rushed for 565 yards and three touchdowns in 14 games (six starts) last season, adding 37 catches for 225 yards.
He has 1,390 rushing yards, 544 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns in 44 games (18 starts) since the Browns picked him in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Chubb, 29, has played in only 10 games over the past two seasons due to knee and foot injuries. He rushed for 332 yards and three scores in eight starts in 2024.
A four-time Pro Bowl selection and four-time 1,000-yard rusher, Chubb ranks third in franchise history with 6,843 rushing yards behind Pro Football Hall of Fame members Jim Brown and Leroy Kelly.
The Browns selected Tennessee running back Dylan Sampson in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft last weekend and also have Pierre Strong Jr. on the roster.
