Mike Ford Jr. comes off bench to make a big interception after Browns lose Denzel Ward

BEREA — The phrase "next man up" is so used in the NFL, it's almost worn out. The Browns, though, wouldn't be in the position they're in just past the midpoint of the season without it.

Not the saying. The mindset it represents.

"It's a great feeling just being able to be out there and have my teammates' back," Browns cornerback Mike Ford Jr. said Monday. "That's my role on this team, is to always be there and be able to have their backs. So it was just great being able to have that opportunity and show those guys that I'm there for them."

Ford was one of the Browns players who was there when needed in Sunday's 33-31 win over the Baltimore Ravens. The game was full of players like Ford who seemed to see their responsibilities grow exponentially from what they were at the start of the game, if not the season.

There was always a chance Ford was going to be called upon in the game, just because of the injury situation the Browns have at cornerback. However, the thought was that he have been needed fill in for Greg Newsome II as the third cornerback if Newsome was unable to play due to a groin injury that had him listed as questionable entering the game.

Instead of playing for Newsome, who ended up not only playing but coming up with one of the game's biggest plays with an interception return for a touchdown, Ford found himself in the lineup for Pro Bowl cornerback Denzel Ward. Ward played just seven snaps before leaving with a neck injury after being hit by Ravens tackle Ronnie Stanley.

"We are a pretty good team, man," safety Grant Delpit said. "We got a lot of talent. So next guy up — somebody get injured, it's what we practice for."

Browns coach Kevin Stefanski on Monday said the league would send the specific play on which Ward was injured in to the league for review. He did not have an update on the status of either Ward or safety Juan Thornhill, who left the game in the third quarter with a calf injury.

The Browns play host to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday afternoon. Both teams come into the game with 6-3 record.

Ford ended up with 28 snaps of his own on defense, which was 45% of the Browns' defensive snaps. He also ended up with an key interception to help the Browns prevent the Ravens from getting points right before the first half ended.

"Man, it was just went in my hand," Ford said of the pick. "I was like, man, it's the first one. Let's celebrate a little bit. Then I seen Za'Darius (Smith) and he's, like, 'Give me the ball, give me the ball.' I'm, like, 'All right, hand him the ball so that I can have that in the office and then just go celebrate with my team. Bring a little energy out there for the guys.'"

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

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Mike Ford Jr. picks up Browns after Denzel Ward leaves with injury