Cleveland Browns' Nick Chubb was carted off in the second quarter of a 26-22 loss to Pittsburgh on Monday night with another severe knee injury; the Los Angeles Rams meanwhile traded running back Cam Akers to the Minnesota Vikings
Thursday 21 September 2023 11:54, UK
Kareem Hunt is returning to the Cleveland Browns to add depth at running back after starter Nick Chubb suffered a season-ending injury.
Hunt – who spent four seasons with the Browns before the team decided not to re-sign him this offseason – is reported to have signed a one-year deal to return to Cleveland where he will back up Jerome Ford, who came off the bench and ran for 106 yards on Monday after Chubb got hurt.
The 28-year-old is expected to practice later on Wednesday and because he already knows the system, Hunt is expected to be able to step right in and help the Browns (1-1), who host Tennessee on Sunday.
Chubb is facing more surgery on his left knee after tearing ligaments when he was hit by Pittsburgh safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. The four-time Pro Bowler sustained a major injury to the same knee in 2015 when he played at Georgia.
Hunt and Chubb once gave the Browns the top 1-2 running back tandem in the NFL. Hunt rushed for 1,874 yards and 16 touchdowns in four seasons with Cleveland. He was also effective as a pass catcher, getting 211 receptions for 1,806 yards.
As a rookie in 2017, Hunt led the league in rushing for Kansas City but his career took a turn the following year after video surfaced of him pushing a woman in the hallway of a hotel in downtown Cleveland. He was suspended for the first eight games in 2019.
Hunt had a turbulent 2022 season with the Browns. Unable to get a new contract, he drew the ire of coaches by sitting out drills in training camp. Hunt wound up playing in all 17 games but wasn't as effective while running for 468 yards and adding 210 receiving.
The Los Angeles Rams traded running back Cam Akers to the Minnesota Vikings on Wednesday in exchange for a swap of 2026 draft picks.
Akers lands on a Vikings team that is still coping with the offseason loss of Dalvin Cook. He joins a running back room composed of two-game starter Alexander Mattison along with Ty Chandler and Myles Gaskin.
Mattison has rushed for 62 yards in two games.
Akers requested a trade last season after being dissatisfied with his role with Los Angeles. He returned to the team after the Rams failed to find a suitable trade partner.
Akers started in Week One for the Rams, rushing for 29 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries in a win at Seattle. But he was a healthy inactive last week against the San Francisco 49ers.
He has 360 carries for 1,443 yards and 10 touchdowns in 30 career games (15 starts) since being selected by Los Angeles in the second round of the 2020 draft out of Florida State.
