It’s easy for athletes to find someone or something to blame for a devastating injury. Nick Chubb is not one of those athletes. The Cleveland Browns running back spoke to the media on Wednesday for the first time since his season-ending knee injury last September and made it clear he does not think the hit from Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick was intentional.
“I don’t think it was a dirty hit at all. I don’t blame him,” Chubb said, per Andrew Siciliano.
Chubb tore the MCL and damaged the ACL in his left knee during Cleveland’s Week 2 game in Pittsburgh. After undergoing surgery in late September, Chubb needed an additional operation in November.
The Browns expect him to be available at some point in 2024 but there is no timetable for his return. Chubb said Wednesday that he likes where he is in his recovery as he continues to aggressively attack rehab.
Chubb suffered a similar injury in 2015 while playing for the Georgia Bulldogs. That likely contributed to his mental battle following his injury last year. He said his teammates helped him through those tough recovery days.
“The team did a great job of being there for me,” Chubb said, via Mary Kay Cabot. “I was down mentally for a while. When you get hurt it’s one thing. When you get hurt again and you already know what you have to go through, the entire process, surgery, rehab, it’s a non-stop battle every day. My team did a great job of being there for me and I was around the building for them. They did a great job, made the playoffs, had a great run.”
Chubb posted consecutive 1,000-yard seasons with Georgia after the injury before the Browns picked him in the second round in 2018.
Browns think Nick Chubb can return to form
Browns GM Andrew Berry did not want Chubb’s last carry with Cleveland to be the play that caused his knee injury. Though always under contract in 2024, the Browns and Chubb reworked his deal in April to bring down his base salary with incentives.
Cleveland has faith that Chubb will make a full recovery and be a significant part of its offense this year. The 28-year-old has the opportunity to prove he still has it and has the motivation to do so on his incentive-based deal.
Chubb is among the best running backs in the NFL and has been for the better part of his career. After coming four rushing yards shy of 1,000 during his rookie season, Chubb averaged 1,336 yards over the next four seasons. He was as efficient as any back in the league, averaging 5.3 yards per carry and over 90 yards per game in that span.
His best season was in 2022 when he started all 17 games and rushed for a career-high 1,525 yards. He earned his fourth consecutive Pro Bowl nod and was named a second-team All-Pro.
Chubb wasted no time asserting himself again in 2023 as he averaged over six yards per carry before the injury.
The Browns have playoff aspirations in 2024 after winning 11 games last season. Cleveland wants Nick Chubb to be a major part of that and the veteran running back is doing everything he can to make that a reality.
