Jennings getting opportunities with Browns

11.19.2009

In his first extended action of the regular season, Browns running back Chris Jennings carried the ball 7 times for 18 yards in Monday night's 16-0 home loss to the Ravens.

Showing he can be a multi-purpose back in the NFL, Jennings also caught a pass out of the backfield for a 10-yard gain on the right side of the field in the second quarter.

"You love it," Jennings said of playing Monday night. "You enjoy it and any time you can get out there and really do the job that you were born and blessed to do, and that's run the ball, the ability to be a quarterback or whatever your specific position is, to have them call your number and be ready from practice and preparation throughout the week, you love it and just go out and have fun."

It was only Jennings' second appearance in a regular season game with the Browns. Jennings had an 8-yard run and 2-yard reception in a 23-20 overtime loss to the Bengals in Week Four of the NFL season.

"We wanted to get him active to see what he could do, give him some chances for carries," Browns Coach Eric Mangini said Wednesday. "He did well. He had a couple runs that were good runs and one that maybe lost a yard or 2. There wasn't a lot of space to work on that.

"With Chris, he's gotten a little bit better each week," added Mangini. "The next step for us was to give him a chance to carry the ball in games. He had a carry early in the season, made a guy miss and picked up 8 yards. This was trying to work him into the rotation."

Though he has typically kept only 2 running backs active for many of the games this season, Mangini had Jennings, Jerome Harrison and Jamal Lewis at his disposal Monday night.

"He's a good running back," Lewis said of Jennings. "He's getting some good work in and I think he's going to be a special back once he gets everything down and gets a groove. Once he learns the system, he'll be a great back in the future."

While all running backs want to get on the field and get the bulk of the workload, Jennings took his time to learn from other players in the locker room and Running Backs Coach Gary Brown.

"It's been a blessing," Jennings said. "J-Lew has taken me under his wing, along with Jerome Harrison, to help me upgrade my game. It's like a dream come true to a rookie to have somebody take you under their wing like that. They could be selfish, but they're very unselfish and family-like. In the running back room, we're all family. They taught me the ins and outs, techniques on different plays, how to hit the hole and different things. I love it."

Jennings' journey from The University of Arizona to the Browns took several twists and turns, but he never gave up on his dream of playing in the NFL.

After being passed up in the 2008 NFL Draft, Jennings headed North to Quebec to play for the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League. On August 18th, Jennings was signed by the Browns.

Though he missed much of training camp, Jennings showed the coaching staff enough to be added to the practice squad after final roster cuts were made in early September. Nearly a month later, Jennings was signed to the active roster.

Since being moved up to the 53-man roster, Jennings has worked at running back and special teams. As the season continues, Jennings will complete whatever task he is given by Mangini, Brown and Assistant Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator Brad Seely.

"I love special teams," said Jennings. "I never played it in college, never had the opportunity. Running around and running downfield full steam and flying around is fun. Having the opportunity and having him and the special teams coach give me the opportunity to play and play on game day, you could never ask for more."