In the wake of a catastrophic knee injury to running back Nick Chubb, the Browns appear to be turning to a familiar face.
Cleveland is signing running back Kareem Hunt to a one-year contract, according to a Wednesday morning report from Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Mary Kay Cabot of The Plain Dealer first reported Hunt and the team were headed in that direction..
Hunt, 28, played for the Browns from 2019 to ’22. He totaled 1,874 yards and 16 touchdowns on the ground in 49 games with Cleveland, adding 973 yards on 132 receptions through the air.
The Toledo product largely played second fiddle to Chubb in the past, a dynamic that will change after Chubb was hurt during the Browns’ 26–22 loss to the Steelers Monday.
Reunion: The #Browns and veteran RB Kareem Hunt have agreed to terms on a one-year deal, per source.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) September 20, 2023
Hunt scored 23 TDs over the past four seasons in Cleveland. Now he’s back — and figures to have a lot of opportunities after Nick Chubb’s season-ending injury. pic.twitter.com/6TlDbaPLYj
Hunt burst onto the scene in 2017 as a rookie with 1,327 yards for the Chiefs, who cut him on Nov. 30, 2018 when a video of him attacking a woman became public. He then served an eight-game suspension to start the 2019 season.
Apart from Chubb and Hunt, Cleveland's running back room includes second-year backs Jerome Ford and Pierre Strong.