BEREA — Jerome Ford's life has been a whirlwind since the start of training camp.

It started with the Browns running back being at Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital in Cleveland for the birth of his second child, and first son, Jerome III. He then had to rejoin the team at The Greenbrier in West Virginia, where it had already started camp.

The last week, though, Ford has at least had a chance to go back to his home. So what's the routine like when he leaves the team facility and gets back home?

"Sleeping in a different room," Ford said before Thursday's training camp practice. "That's what I do when I get home. I try my best to help on my off days. I try my best to help. When it's time to go to sleep, I definitely sleep in another room."

The birth of Ford's second child prevented him from participating in the Browns' first three training camp practices. It wasn't the longest absence ever by a player, but it was still three days of installation of a new offensive scheme and with a new running backs coach.

That new running backs coach, Duce Staley, has made sure Ford didn't miss a beat. Not during his time away with his family, but once he returned to practice.

"I feel like I'm caught up well," Ford said. "Duce does a good job in conditioning us, making sure that we go hard and practice so that when it's time for the game we'll be ready."

Ford was as ready as he could be when he found himself thrown into the starting running back role after Nick Chubb's catastrophic knee injury in Pittsburgh on Sept. 18 last season. Suddenly, the player who had just eight carries as a rookie was thrust in a significantly bigger spot.

The 2022 fifth-round pick out of the University of Cincinnati did well enough in the role. He finished with 855 yards and four touchdowns on 212 carries, along with another 44 catches for 319 yards and five touchdowns.

"I learned a lot," Ford said of last season. "I learned that preparation is key. Making sure you prepare mentally and physically are the keys to having success."

Chubb remains a question mark in terms of a timetable on his return. He's been seen working on a side field multiple times, running sprints and doing shuffles through bags.

Until Chubb returns, though, it's Ford who will be viewed as the likely No. 1 running back for the Browns once again. There are others, though, who'll share the work, such as Pierre Strong Jr., D'Onta Foreman and, when healthy, Nyheim Hines.

To elevate his all-around game, Ford acknowledged the biggest area of growth has nothing to do with the running game. Instead, he talked about pass protection, about which Staley whole-heartedly agrees.

"It’s something that he’s getting better with," Staley said. "We talk about it all the time in the room — not just him, everybody. You gotta be able to protect the quarterback. Of course, you know, every running back wants the ball. They want to run the ball, but it’s all about what you’re doing when you don’t have the ball, everything from running out play actions and protecting the quarterback. So, we take pride in doing that.”

Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Jerome Ford catching up on sleep, football since birth of 2nd child