Browns' Nick Chubb: Officially ruled out for Week 5
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Chubb (knee), who remains on the reserve/PUP list after having been designated to return Wednesday, was ruled out for Sunday's game against the Commanders, Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.
Chubb was never a realistic candidate to retake the field as early as Week 5, and it would be unsurprising to see the Browns give him the benefit of his full 21-day practice window before activating him to the 53-man roster. Still, the progress made by Chubb in his recovery has been encouraging, with head coach Kevin Stefanski saying the star running back "looks like himself to me," per Zac Jackson of The Athletic. Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports that Chubb worked with the scout team and in individual drills at practice this week.
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Browns' Nick Chubb: Puts in limited practice Thursday
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Chubb (knee) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice.
Chubb was back on the field for the second day in a row, albeit with a cap on his reps as the Browns ease him back from the major left knee injury that he sustained in Week 2 of the 2023 season. According to Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com, Chubb said his surgically repaired knee felt good following Wednesday's practice, but he's unlikely to play Sunday against the Commanders and admitted that he's unsure when he'll be ready to make his 2024 debut. Until Chubb is activated from the PUP list, Jerome Ford should remain the Browns' lead back, while D'Onta Foreman and Pierre Strong (hamstring) fill depth roles behind him.
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Browns' Nick Chubb: Returns to practice
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Chubb (knee) returned to practice Wednesday as a limited participant and was fifth through the line for handoffs among the team's running backs, Zac Jackson of The Athletic reports.
Though the Browns have declined to comment on expectations for Chubb's return to games, their decision to open his 21-day practice window Wednesday suggests they expect him back no later than Week 8. Until he's placed on the active roster, Chubb won't be listed with an official gameday status on the team's final practice report of a given week, which means further updates will come from coaches or plugged-in reporters. Chubb's spot at the back of the hand-off line Wednesday might be taken as a hint that Jerome Ford will get at least one more game as the Browns' lead back Sunday at Washington.
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Browns' Nick Chubb: Cleared for practice
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The Browns designated Chubb (knee) to return to practice Wednesday.
The move opens up a 21-day practice window in which the Browns can evaluate Chubb in practice before having to activate him from the reserve/PUP list. Per Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal, the Browns have no definitive target for Chubb's return to game action, but the running back's looming return to practice represents a major milestone in his recovery from the serious knee injury he sustained in Week 2 last season.
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Browns' Nick Chubb: Slated to practice Wednesday
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Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said Monday that he expects Chubb (reserve/PUP list, knee) to have his 21-day practice window opened Wednesday and to be on the field in some capacity, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.
Chubb currently remains on the reserve/PUP list due to a severe left knee injury sustained Week 2 of last season, so it will be highly encouraging to see him ready to resume practicing at his earliest possible eligible date. Once he's officially designated to return, Cleveland will have 21 days to evaluate Chubb at practice, throughout which span he'll be eligible to return to the active roster at any time. That makes Sunday's road game against the Commanders the earliest tentative date Chubb could be eligible to return to game action, though it seems more likely that the veteran running back will be brought along cautiously. Jerome Ford will continue to lead Cleveland's backfield until Chubb is fully cleared, with D'Onta Foreman available behind him on the depth chart.
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Browns' Nick Chubb: Set for evaluation next week
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Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said Wednesday that Chubb (knee) is "doing well" and will be evaluated next week, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.
Stefanski essentially sidestepped the question when he was asked if Chubb would be designated to return from injured reserve when first eligible next week. Fantasy managers don't have much information to go on right now, with Chubb more than a year removed from suffering ACL and MCL tears to his left knee but only 10 months out from the second surgery he had on the knee. Fellow Browns running back Jerome Ford has played 66 percent of snaps on offense through three games, averaging 9.7 carries for 48.3 yards and 3.3 catches for 19.3 yards in an offense that's been severely limited by poor play at quarterback and offensive tackle. The situation may be somewhat better by the time Chubb returns, but the combination of subpar team context and his return from a major knee surgery will make it difficult to maintain his accustomed rushing efficiency. Chubb has averaged at least 5.0 yards per carry in each of his first six NFL seasons.
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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: 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.
