Jaguars trade for Browns RB Carlos Hyde

The Jacksonville Jaguars, in need of rushing help because Leonard Fournette is out indefinitely with a hamstring injury, traded a fifth-round draft pick to the Cleveland Browns for running back Carlos Hyde on Friday.

Hyde had rushed for 382 yards and five touchdowns in his first season in Cleveland. He just barely missed rushing for 1,000 yards in each of the past two seasons with the San Francisco 49ers.

The move means rookie Nick Chubb, a second-round pick out of Georgia, should take over as the Cleveland starter.

The Jaguars said Friday that Fournette will miss Sunday's game against the Houston Texans at TIAA Bank Field. It will be the third consecutive game -- and fifth overall -- that he has missed with the injury. There is no timetable for when he will be able to return, coach Doug Marrone said.

"I don't know when he'll be ready," Marrone said. "I really don't."

T.J. Yeldon, who has been dealing with an ankle injury, has been the Jaguars' main back in Fournette's absence. After losing Corey Grant to a season-ending foot injury against the Kansas City Chiefs, the Jaguars signed Jamaal Charles last week. He had five carries for 5 yards and one catch for 5 yards against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.

Hyde has rushed for 3,113 yards and 26 touchdowns in four-plus seasons in the NFL. The 49ers selected him in the second round of the 2014 draft, and after playing in only 21 games his first two seasons, he rushed for 988 yards and six touchdowns in 2016 and 940 yards and eight touchdowns in 2017.

He signed with the Browns in March, agreeing to a three-year, $15.25 million contract with $7 million guaranteed.

For the Browns, the trade opens a logjam at running back that will benefit Chubb. Almost every week, the team had said it had to get the second-round pick more involved; he now figures to start.

Hyde ran hard and well, turning several negative plays into positive gains, but he didn't show the breakaway ability Chubb has displayed.

Chubb had one touchdown for 63 yards and another for 41 against the Oakland Raiders in Week 4. He is one of three players with multiple rushes of at least 40 yards this season. He also has two runs longer than 15 yards. Of his 16 carries, half were for 5 yards or more.

Hyde had 31 of 114 carries that were for 5 yards or more but also had 28 carries for no gain or negative yardage. His longest run of the season was for 22 yards -- his only run longer than 20.

The Browns -- and especially offensive coordinator Todd Haley -- had dubbed Hyde the workhorse, but giving him 114 carries didn't leave much for Duke Johnson Jr. (19 carries) and Chubb.

The trade returns the Browns to a running back situation similar to what they had in 2017, when Johnson totaled 1,041 yards rushing and receiving while sharing time with Isaiah Crowell. Chubb should be the early-down back, with Johnson used in varying ways as a change of pace -- both in running and receiving roles.

The big-play potential for Chubb and Johnson becomes a bigger factor given the team's lack of depth at wide receiver. The Browns will face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with Jarvis Landry, newly signed Breshad Perriman and three rookies.

One area where Chubb will need to improve is in pass protection. He struggled early in that job, not unlike many rookies. With increased playing time will come increased responsibilities.

Friday's trade adds to the Browns' trove of 2019 draft picks. In addition to their own selections in the first six rounds, the Browns have acquired a third-rounder from the New England Patriots, Jacksonville's fifth-rounder, another fifth-rounder from New England and a conditional seventh-rounder from Jacksonville.

Fournette hurt his right hamstring late in the first half of the season opener and missed the next two games. He returned in Week 4 but aggravated the injury late in the first half of that game and hasn't practiced since. He has 71 yards rushing and four catches for 19 yards.