The Washington Commanders cannot just snap their fingers and replace Austin Ekeler’s versatility. However, if they think strategically, they can still replace his production. In Cleveland, Jerome Ford is an underutilized running back for the Browns, yet he has consistently shown he can find the end zone.
This is precisely the type of low-risk, high-reward trade that a team with playoff aspirations should consider. The Commanders should not wait around while their backfield is under pressure to perform.
Why Does Jerome Ford Make the Most Sense for the Washington Commanders Right Now?
The trade discussions are heating primarily because of Austin Ekeler’s season-ending torn Achilles injury, which has left a gaping hole in the Washington Commanders’ running game. Ekeler, who joined Washington before the 2024 season after a stellar tenure with the Los Angeles Chargers, was brought in to be a dynamic, dual-threat weapon in the backfield.
Unfortunately, that plan stopped in Week 2 of the 2025 season when he was injured trying to evade a defender on a standard run play.
After the injury, team officials announced that Ekeler will undergo surgery and be out for the remainder of the year. His absence is a significant blow, especially since he has proven a dependable rusher and receiver. During his first season with the Commanders in 2024, he racked up more than 1,000 scrimmage yards and played a key role in the team’s playoff chase.
Austin Ekeler just tore his achilles man, this might be it for him 💔 pic.twitter.com/F2uf6V9brW
— SM Highlights (@SMHighlights1) September 12, 2025
Meanwhile, Ford, the adaptable running back with 12 career touchdowns, is becoming a more likely trade candidate as the Cleveland Browns’ backfield situation evolves. Drafted in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft from the University of Cincinnati, Ford made a splash in 2023 when he stepped up admirably for the injured star Nick Chubb.
He continued his solid production into 2024, playing in 14 games and starting six. In that campaign, he accumulated 565 rushing yards on 104 carries for a strong 5.4 yards per carry average, and added 225 receiving yards, though he did not score. But in 2025, his opportunities quickly dried up, with just 12 carries for 39 yards through two games.
The emergence of other backs has fueled this shift. Dylan Sampson, a fourth-round pick from Tennessee, and Raheim Sanders, an undrafted player from Arkansas, are performing well. Sampson saw significant action in Week 1, and Sanders scored the team’s only rushing touchdown this season. On top of that, second-round pick Quinshon Judkins, coming off an excellent career at Ohio State, is now cleared to play, further complicating the depth chart.
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According to Jeremy Brener of SI.com, with Ford’s free agency looming after the 2025 season, the Browns see value in trading him now for a conditional draft pick rather than letting him walk for nothing.
A trade for Ford would not completely revolutionize the Commanders’ backfield overnight, but it would inject much-needed experience and reliability into a unit currently leaning heavily on unproven players. Rookie seventh-rounder Jacory Croskey-Merritt, drafted in 2025 from New Mexico, has stepped up as the primary back. He has shown potential but has also struggled to handle a full workload.
While veterans Jeremy McNichols and Chris Rodriguez Jr. are contributing, with McNichols offering some receiving ability, the team’s overall rushing performance dipped in Week 2. Ford, now 26, provides a well-rounded skill set. Over 46 career games, he averages 4.4 yards per carry and 6.5 yards per reception, and his 12 total touchdowns highlight his scoring ability, particularly in the red zone.
Ford may not be the same type of receiving threat as Ekeler, but he consistently delivers on the ground and has shown flashes of versatility. In 2023, he recorded 319 receiving yards to complement his 813 rushing yards, making him the kind of dual-threat option Washington desperately needs.