Browns' Nick Chubb: Officially starts season on PUP
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Chubb (knee) is on the reserve/PUP list to start the regular season, ruling him out for at least the first four games.
The Browns made it official Tuesday after it was widely reported Monday. The 28-year-old running back has been working out, running and even doing agility work throughout the summer, but he still hasn't resumed practicing with the team since suffering an ACL tear last September. Jerome Ford is set to lead Cleveland's backfield early in the season, just as he did for much of last year.
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Browns' Nick Chubb: Likely staying on PUP list
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Chubb (knee) is expected to start the regular season on the reserve/PUP list, which will rule him out for the first four weeks, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Chubb has been on the active/PUP list since the start of training camp -- meaning he hasn't returned to practice -- and now figures to be placed on reserve/PUP ahead of Week 1. Jerome Ford is set to lead Cleveland's backfield early in the season, with D'Onta Foreman (ribs) and Pierre Strong (ribs) also candidates to take some carries. Chubb is rebounding from surgeries in September and November to address ACL and MCL tears in the same left knee that he injured in 2015 during his sophomore season at Georgia.
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Browns' Nick Chubb: Progress continues
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Browns GM Andrew Berry said Monday that Chubb (knee) has "a little way to go" with his rehab, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.
Chubb was spotted Friday running sprints and doing agility work, with Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer noting that team owner Jimmy Haslam "looked very pleased" to see Chubb "cutting with tremendous agility." While the reports from other Cleveland beat writers weren't quite as glowing, Zac Jackson of The Athletic agreed that it was "impressive" to see Chubb's progress both on the field and in the weight room (a viral video shortly before training camp showed the RB squatting more than 500 pounds). Neither player nor team has mentioned a timeline for Chubb coming off the active/PUP list and returning to practice, leaving him uncertain for the early part of the season despite a general sense of optimism. He had surgeries in September and then November to address ACL and MCL tears in his left knee.
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Browns' Nick Chubb: Participates in workout Friday
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Chubb (knee) had a post-practice workout Friday, running sprints of 40 yards, Zac Jackson of The Athletic reports.
This was the first activity that any outsiders have seen of Chubb, who has worked on the side with trainers over the first two days of camp doing non-football exercises -- as Jackson described it, "keep-the-blood flowing kind of stuff." Chubb was not wearing a brace or wrap during the sprints, and Jackson reports it's hard to tell if he was running full speed or if he's dealing with any restrictions. Cleveland head coach Kevin Stefanski said the running back is right where he should be in his recovery. Chubb opened camp on the active/physically unable to perform list and could be activated at any point during camp.
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Browns' Nick Chubb: Officially shifts to PUP list
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The Browns placed Chubb (knee) on the active/PUP list Wednesday.
Chubb can be activated at any point throughout training camp or the preseason once he passes a physical and is deemed ready to practice. The 28-year-old running back is working his way back from a severe left knee injury, which included two separate surgeries to repair his MCL and ACL. Chubb has made encouraging progress in his workouts this offseason and is expected to be healthy and available for game action at some point during the 2024 campaign, but an exact timetable for his return remains uncertain. In the meantime, Jerome Ford, D'Onta Foreman and Pierre Strong should handle the bulk of backfield reps at practice, with Nyheim Hines (knee) also working his way back from the active/non-football injury list.
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Browns' Nick Chubb: Encouraging workout progress
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Chubb (knee) was shown in a video posted Monday to his documentary film's Instagram account handling two squat reps of what appeared to be 558 pounds, Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.
Chubb didn't do any on-field work during OTAs or minicamp and declined to put a timetable on his return back in June, but the four-time Pro Bowler continues to make progress in his recovery with the start of training camp approaching, as veterans report for Cleveland on July 23. The 28-year-old suffered a season-ending ACL, MCL and meniscus injury in Week 2 last year, requiring separate surgeries to repair his MCL on Sept. 29, then his ACL on Nov. 14. When Chubb suffered a similar injury to the same knee at Georgia, he didn't miss a single game in the Bulldogs' following season, but at that time, his ACL wasn't torn. Whether Chubb will be available for the start of training camp as even a limited participant is still unclear, and his status for Week 1 versus Dallas is also in question. In any case, the Browns seem optimistic that he'll be fully healthy and suiting up at some point during the 2024 campaign. Cleveland has depth to lean on if Chubb isn't able to play early in the season, as the team added bruiser D'Onta Foreman and pass-catching specialist Nyheim Hines (knee) to a backfield already housing Jerome Ford and Pierre Strong.
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Browns' Nick Chubb: No timetable for practice return
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Chubb (knee) said Wednesday that he doesn't have a timeline for returning to practice, Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.
Chubb had surgery Sept. 29 to address an MCL tear and then another procedure Nov. 14 to repair a torn ACL. The left knee injury he suffered Week 2 last season also included damage to his meniscus and medial capsule, further adding to the difficulty of rehabbing the second severe injury to the same knee during his playing career. He previously tore three ligaments in the knee during his time at college in Georgia in 2015, though in that case, his ACL remained intact. Chubb seems unlikely to be ready for the start of training camp and might also miss the start of the regular season, but he anticipates making a full recovery and playing in games at some point in 2024. In the meantime, the Browns have Jerome Ford, D'Onta Foreman and Pierre Strong as their top running backs, with Nyheim Hines potentially pitching in as a pass-catching specialist.
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Browns' Nick Chubb: Running on land again
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Chubb (knee) resumed running on land within the last week, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.
Chubb took his rehab to the next level shortly after agreeing last Thursday to a contract alteration that converted a large portion of his scheduled $11.75 million base salary into incentives. He's entering the final season of a three-year extension and still faces a long path to complete his rehab from surgeries in September and November to address ACL, MCL and meniscus injuries in his left knee. It's the same knee in which he suffered a major injury Oct. 2015 -- his sophomore season at Georgia -- and he later had an MCL sprain in the knee Oct. 2020. The Browns hope the 28-year-old is ready for Week 1, but they're also preparing for the possibility of missed time, having added RBs D'Onta Foreman and Nyheim Hines (knee) to a roster that still has Jerome Ford and Pierre Strong.
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Browns' Nick Chubb: Takes pay cut
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Chubb (knee) agreed Thursday to restructure his contract with the Browns, lowering his $11.75 million base salary while adding additional incentives, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
Chubb is coming off a severe left knee injury that involved surgeries to repair his ACL, MCL and meniscus, but the Browns have consistently stated that he wasn't considered a cut candidate, according to Cabot. Restructuring his base salary into a more manageable figure solidifies the notion that Chubb will remain in Cleveland for the final year of his deal in 2024. Depending on his performance, Chubb could reportedly make back the entire sum of his initial salary, but he'll first have to return to full health and return to the field. Should Chubb's recovery into the start of the regular season or result in him being limited in the early weeks, the Browns will have new backfield additions D'Onta Foreman and Nyheim Hines (knee) available to help carry the load along with holdover Jerome Ford.
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Browns' Nick Chubb: May be asked to renegotiate
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The Browns want to keep Chubb (knee) but might consider releasing him this offseason if the two sides can't agree on a new contract, according to Zac Jackson of The Athletic.
Chubb probably wouldn't like the idea of taking a pay cut for the final year of his contract, as he mostly outplayed the terms of the deal before suffering an ACL tear in September. An extension would allow the Browns to lower his $15.83 million cap hit and $11.78 million base salary for 2024 without forcing Chubb to take a straight-up pay cut, though the team might be hesitant to offer significant guarantees to a 28-year-old RB coming back from a severe injury. GM Andrew Berry said in January that the Browns intend to bring Chubb back for 2024, one way or another.
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Browns' Nick Chubb: Gets ACL repaired
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The Browns announced Tuesday that Chubb underwent a successful surgery to repair a torn ACL in his left knee.
The procedure was Chubb's second since he suffered the season-ending knee injury in the Browns' 26-22 loss to the Steelers on Sept. 18. He had his first surgery Sept. 29 on his meniscus and MCL, but under the recommendation of doctors, he waited another six weeks before addressing the torn ACL. Chubb is without an official timeline to return to football activities, but the Browns previously relayed after the first surgery that the running back is expected to be available for game action at some point during the 2024 season. Jerome Ford has taken over as the Browns' primary option out of the backfield while Chubb has been sidelined, with Kareem Hunt and Pierre Strong serving as change-of-pace options behind Ford.
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Browns' Nick Chubb: Undergoes knee surgery Friday
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Chubb (knee, IR) underwent surgery to repair his torn MCL and meniscus Friday, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports.
The Browns announced Friday's surgery also repaired damage to Chubb's medial capsule. The star running back was injured back in Week 2 and will require a second surgery "in the coming months" to repair his ACL, per Kelsey Russo of the team's official site. The team believes Chubb will be able to return to play "at some point" in 2024. Cleveland recently brought back Kareem Hunt to work with Jerome Ford and Pierre Strong in its backfield. Deon Jackson also signed with the practice squad.
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Browns' Nick Chubb: Could require multiple surgeries
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Chubb (knee) could undergo surgery within the next 7-to-10 days and then again several weeks later, Josina Anderson of CBS Sports reports.
The precise diagnosis of Chubb's injury is not completely clear yet, but according to the latest report he also has damage to his meniscus. His injuries are season-ending, which means the star running back will focus on recovery going forward. The 27-year-old notably dislocated and tore the MCL, PCL and LCL in the same knee in October 2015 during his sophomore season at Georgia. Jerome Ford will fill in as the Browns' new feature back in the immediate future, but Cleveland is still expected to bring in another veteran option at the position.
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Browns' Nick Chubb: Confirmed out for season
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Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed Tuesday that Chubb will undergo season-ending surgery on his left knee after the running back exited Monday's 26-22 loss to the Steelers with the injury, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
Chubb carried 10 times for 64 yards before going down with the gruesome injury two plays into the second quarter, when his knee bent awkwardly on a hit by Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. The star running back was carted off the field, and as anticipated, initial tests on Chubb's knee revealed a season-ending injury. Until the results of Chubb's MRI are read, the Browns may not provide a precise diagnosis for the injury, but the 27-year-old notably dislocated and tore the MCL, PCL and LCL in the same knee in October 2015 during his sophomore season at Georgia. With Chubb lost for the season, Stefanski told Cabot that Jerome Ford will step in as the Browns' new feature back, though the coach suggested that Cleveland will still look to add another back to the 53-man roster.
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Browns' Nick Chubb: Likely out for season
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Chubb likely sustained a season-ending left knee injury during Monday's loss at Pittsburgh, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Immediately after he took a helmet to the knee from Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, Chubb was clutching at his left leg, and trainers made their way on the field to tend to him before he was carted off. Chubb is believed to have suffered multiple ligament tears to the same knee that was dislocated and sustained MCL, LCL and PCL tears in October 2015 while at Georgia. While Cleveland will be without Chubb for the rest of the campaign, his likely replacement in the backfield is Jerome Ford, who had 19 touches for 131 yards from scrimmage and one touchdown Monday.
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Browns' Nick Chubb: Tops century mark in Week 1 win
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Chubb rushed 18 times for 106 yards and caught all four of his targets for 21 yards in Sunday's 24-3 win over the Bengals.
Chubb topped 100 yards on the ground after doing so seven times last season, and his four catches would have been Chubb's second-highest total in 2022, so the star running back's usage in this low-scoring season opener was highly encouraging. Jerome Ford actually got 15 carries, but he rushed for just 36 yards and lost a fumble, so Ford poses little threat to Chubb's workload. Cleveland's workhorse back will try to pick up his first touchdown of the season on Monday Night Football in Week 2 against a Steelers team that just allowed 152 rushing yards and a touchdown to San Francisco RB Christian McCaffrey.
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Browns' Nick Chubb: Not in line to play Saturday
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Chubb isn't expected to see action in Saturday's preseason finale against the Chiefs, James Palmer of NFL Network reports.
With top backup Jerome Ford dealing with a hamstring injury, it looks like the Browns plan to play it safe with Chubb on Saturday. As a result, Demetric Felton, John Kelly, Hassan Hall and Jordan Wilkins should have an opportunity versus Kansas City to support their cases for depth slotting in the team's backfield ahead of Week 1. Once the regular season starts Sept. 10 against the Bengals, Chubb will remain entrenched as Cleveland's top RB option, a context that should provide him with consistent weekly volume in terms of snaps and touches.
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Browns' Nick Chubb: Not in line to face Eagles
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Chubb isn't slated to play in Thursday's preseason contest against the Eagles.
With Chubb and fellow RB Jerome Ford (hamstring) among the Browns' key players not in line to see action Thursday, Demetric Felton, John Kelly, Hassan Hall and Jordan Wilkins are available to log carries. Chubb's final opportunity to see preseason work arrives on Saturday, Aug. 26 against the Chiefs.
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Browns' Nick Chubb: In line to rest Friday
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Chubb is not in line to see action in Friday's preseason contest against the Commanders, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
Per Cabot, top wideout Amari Cooper is also likely to be rested in the contest. With Jerome Ford (hamstring) unavailable Friday, Demetric Felton, John Kelly and Hassan Hall are slated to handle the team's backfield duties versus Washington.
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Browns' Nick Chubb: Could handle third downs
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Running backs coach Stump Mitchell suggested Chubb will play third downs this season, while head coach Kevin Stefanski said he isn't sure who will handle the role, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.
The Browns need to take Chubb off the field at least occasionally, and it makes sense to do it when the odds of a run play are lowest. On the other hand, their backfield offers minimal NFL experience behind him now that Kareem Hunt is gone, so Chubb may end up being the only one trusted to pass block and know all of his assignments. Jerome Ford is on track for the second spot on the depth chart, following a rookie season in which he got eight carries and nary a target. The Browns also have 2020 sixth-round Demetric Felton, who played some WR in college and could be the choice if the Browns decide to prioritize receiving skills over blocking and size. It sounds like Chubb's position coach expects him to handle at least a portion of the snaps in clear passing situations, which might be enough to elevate him to the elite tier of running backs for fantasy football. The 27-year-old has arguably been the most effective runner in the league since he was drafted -- five straight seasons with at least 996 yards, eight TDs and 5.0 YPC -- and he's also been reasonably efficient with his limited targets, catching 119 of 158 (75.3 percent) with 11 career drops, 8.3 YPR and 6.3 YPT.
