WESTFIELD, Ind. — The Cleveland Browns got a key addition to the team drills when they practiced against the Indianapolis Colts at Grand Park in Westfield, Indiana ahead of Saturday’s preseason game at Lucas Oil Stadium.
While wide receivers Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham Jr. were limited in their work during the two joint sessions with the Colts, running back Kareem Hunt was full-go after working his way through a groin injury at the start of training camp last month.
“It felt good getting my legs back underneath me,” Hunt said following Thursday’s practice. “It felt real good.”
The Browns were happy to see Hunt make impactful plays, not only because of his missing the first two weeks of training camp team drills, but also, for the fact that he is facing an eight-game suspension to start the season.
A standout player for Willoughby South High School and the University of Toledo, Hunt was released from his rookie contract with the Kansas City Chiefs on November 30, 2018 when video showed him pushing, and later, kicking a woman at The 9 Hotel in Downtown Cleveland. Since that video became public, reports of other incidents involving Hunt have surfaced.
At the time of Hunt’s release, the Chiefs said he was less than honest in his account of the incident.
Factoring in the end of the 2018 season, it will be nearly one calendar year in-between Hunt’s last and next appearances in an NFL regular-season game.
“It’s pretty frustrating, but I just take it day by day and control what I can control,” Hunt said of missing time in camp due to injury.
“Getting on the same page and you know, just being able to be out there physically and be able to help.”
Browns coach Freddie Kitchens added, “Kareem really came back yesterday for the first time with meaningful reps. You see the ability, and I think everybody sees it.”
Although Hunt faces the eight-game suspension at the start of the 2019 regular season, his talent showed itself in plenty of ways during the joint sessions with the Colts.
In two years with the Chiefs, Hunt rushed for 2,151 yards and 15 touchdowns with 106 first downs, 19 plays going for at least 20 yards and four 40-yard gains. Additionally, Hunt caught 79 passes out of the backfield for 833 yards and 10 touchdowns, including a single-season career high of seven in 2018.
As a rookie in 2017, Hunt went from not expected to have a large role in the offense to rushing for an NFL-best 1,327 yards on 272 carries, an average of 4.9 yards per attempt, which earned him a spot on the AFC Pro Bowl team.
“I’m feeling pretty good,” Hunt said. “It’s just a lot of natural ability. I’m still getting the feel. I wouldn’t say I’m at my peak, but I’m working my way back.
“I definitely have enough time, and then, I’m going to spend a lot of time working out and staying on top of the playbook and stuff like that. I’ll be able to do that.”
