CLEVELAND, Ohio — It was a tale of two injuries on Sunday for the Cleveland Browns in their 21-14 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.
Sunday will most likely be remembered for embattled quarterback Deshaun Watson rupturing his Achilles — an injury that not only ends his 2024 season, but gives the Browns a slew of questions about their future at quarterback that can no longer be avoided.
But the day was supposed to be remembered for Nick Chubb’s return 398 days after suffering the gruesome left knee injury that ended his 2023 campaign in Week 2 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Chubb underwent two separate surgeries to repair the damage last year: A September procedure to repair his meniscus, MCL and medial capsule, and a November one to repair his ACL.
His comeback is historic, considering Chubb also returned from a major reconstruction in the same knee in college, when he was injured as a sophomore at the University of Georgia in 2015.
“I can’t name anyone off the top of my head,” Chubb said two weeks ago, when asked if he knew of any other running back who returned to play after two major surgeries like his.
As Chubb was introduced pregame on Sunday, the final player out of the Cleveland tunnel, he received a standing ovation from the home crowd.
The Browns’ first offensive snap of the game, chants of “Chubb, Chubb, Chubb” rained down from Browns fans as he jogged onto the field. Watson looked for Chubb on Cleveland‘s first play, but a strongly-thrown ball in close proximity went through the running back’s hands.
Two plays later, Chubb got his first carry of the game on third-and-3, a 2-yard gain.
Most of Chubb’s work came in the first half of the game by design.
He ended the afternoon having played 30 offensive snaps, with 11 carries for 22 yards, one rushing TD, and three targets with one catch for 10 yards.
A Cleveland Browns’ is glad running back Nick Chubb is back behind the quarterback in the first half. John Kuntz, cleveland.com
Only one of his carries, a 2-yard run, came in the second half.
“No setbacks,“ coach Kevin Stefanski said after the game. ”Just always trying to be smart with him. Want to make sure that we don’t put him in a bad spot. He was good. He came out of this thing good. So, he’ll be ready to roll.
“I think it was good for him to get tackled. Hasn’t been tackled yet so, just get him in his pads and those type of things. I thought it was good.”
On Monday in a teleconference, Stefanski confirmed Chubb came out of the game feeling good.
“He came out OK,” Stefanski said. “I think it’s important again that he builds on this week and we’ll see where it goes from there.”
Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb celebrates after running for a touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals in the first half of play. Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com
His teammates were of course thrilled to see his return after months of grueling rehab.
And just about everyone is onboard with his proverbial pitch count.
“I think he did well,” star edge rusher Myles Garrett said. “Seemed like he was on a pitch count and wanted to take care of him. I think it’s a smart thing to do. It’s a long season. I want to see him continue to grow and improve from here and get more confident and comfortable taking hits and bouncing off those hits and breaking tackles. But I think he did well.”
Chubb‘s TD was the Browns’ lone score of the first half, and came on the same drive Watson was injured.
Dorian Thompson-Robinson, the Browns’ fifth-round pick from a year ago, stepped in to finish the series after being elevated to backup QB earlier in the day ahead of veteran Jameis Winston.
As Watson exited, the Browns needed six more plays to score. Chubb had a 1-yard TD nullified by a holding call on guard Michael Dunn two plays after Watson‘s injury. But after regrouping, facing fourth-and-goal, Chubb ran around the left end for his first TD since the Browns’ 2022 season finale in Pittsburgh on Jan. 8, 2023.
A Cleveland Browns’ is glad running back Nick Chubb is back behind the quarterback in the first half. John Kuntz, cleveland.com
“I was so happy for him to get a touchdown his first game back, and I know how much the fans love him,” Winston said. “I heard those ‘Chubb, Chubb, Chubb,’ (chants) and we need more of that. And I’m happy for him just to get his feet back wet and I’m excited to see what he’s going to do moving forward.”
With the loss to the Bengals, Cleveland now falls to 1-6, and stays in last place in the AFC North. The Browns have lost five in a row and their season is for all intents and purposes, over.
While those long-term questions about Watson and their quarterback situation will continue to hang over this team, if fans are looking for something else to focus on over the next 10 games, it should be Chubb’s continued progress.
Batman might not be able to save Gotham all by himself this year. But this comeback? It’s heroic all on its own.