- Chubb finished with the NFL’s third-most carries and rushing yards in 2022.
- Suffered a torn ACL, MCL, and PCL in the same knee in college.
- The Browns’ locker room was reportedly more affected by Chubb’s injury than the game’s loss to the Steelers
In a crushing blow to the Cleveland Browns, NFL All-Pro running back Nick Chubb was carted off the field with a “significant” knee injury during Monday night’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The injury casts a shadow over the Browns’ season, as Coach Kevin Stefanski anticipates Chubb will miss the remainder of the season.
Nick Chubb Suffers Season-Ending Knee In Lose To Steelers
Cleveland Browns All-Pro running back Nick Chubb suffered what is expected to be a season-ending knee injury, throwing the team’s prospects for the year into jeopardy. Chubb, who has rushed for over 1,000 yards in four consecutive seasons, was carted off the field during the second quarter of Monday night’s loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters post-game that he anticipates Chubb will be out for the rest of the season.
The team did not specify the nature of Chubb’s injury but fears are that it involves multiple tears. A team official confirmed Chubb was taken to a local hospital as a precaution before returning to Cleveland ahead of the squad. This is the same knee that Chubb had reconstructed in 2015 after suffering multiple ligament tears while playing at Georgia.
The impact of Chubb’s loss was palpable in the locker room after the game, eclipsing even the sting of the 26-22 defeat to the Steelers. “Nick is the engine of the team. Best player on the team… it’s a tragedy,” said wide receiver Amari Cooper.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson, a longtime friend of Chubb, added, “Once we saw the [stadium] replay, [I had] a lot of flashbacks to the [injury] he had in college.”
Without Chubb, the Browns’ offense was visibly hampered for the rest of the game. Jerome Ford, Chubb’s replacement, managed a 69-yard run in the third quarter to set up a go-ahead touchdown. However, the team could not sustain that momentum, and a second defensive touchdown by the Steelers sealed Cleveland’s fate.
All-Pro guard Joel Bitonio acknowledged the gaping hole left in the offense. “He’s a great teammate, he works hard, a great person,” Bitonio said. “To see him go down … it’s tough… It’s a big loss.”
Before the game, the Browns had been vying for their first 2-0 start since 1993. Now they must grapple with how to move forward without one of the NFL’s top running backs. “That’s our brother,” said defensive end Myles Garrett. “We don’t want his injury to be in vain. We gotta push on. That’s what he would want us to do. Just continue to fight.”
As the Browns recalibrate their season’s aspirations, Chubb’s injury is not just a setback on the field but an emotional blow to a team that considered him its linchpin.
Betting Implications
This is a significant blow to the Browns, not only on offense but as a whole. He’s been one of the more dependable running backs in the league, with over 220 carries in three of the previous five seasons. According to Caesars Sportsbook, the Browns had the seventh-best odds to win the Super Bowls (+3000), but don’t be surprised if you see those odds increase after this. Second-year player Jerome Ford should step in as the lead running back, and the Browns will look at free agency to add depth.
