Nick Chubb

Browns Activate RB Nick Chubb, S Juan Thornhill

October 19th, 2024 at 11:51am CST by Ben Levine

The Browns are getting some major reinforcement on both sides of the ball. The team announced that they’ve activated both running back Nick Chubb and safety Juan Thornhill to the active roster.

All signs had been pointing to Chubb returning for Week 7, with the star running back basically confirming his impending activation in an essay earlier this week. Chubb hasn’t seen the field since suffering a major knee injury in Week 2 of last season. After undergoing a pair of procedures over the past year, Chubb naturally landed on the reserve/PUP list for the start of the 2024 campaign. The impending free agent returned to practice earlier this month, and it sounded like the Browns would let the player make the final call regarding a return date.

Ultimately, Chubb settled on Week 7, where he should immediately return to the top of the depth chart. The Browns are hoping the veteran can provide a spark to a struggling offense. Jerome Ford has led the rushing attack for the start of the season, with D’Onta Foreman recently stealing a chunk of carries. Ford’s 5.4 yards-per-carry actually ranks 14th in the NFL, but the team’s overreliance on Deshaun Watson and the passing game has limited the team’s RB production. Perhaps Chubb’s return will have OC Ken Dorsey rethinking his offensive approach.

Thornhill returned to practice earlier this week. The defensive back suffered a calf injury during the season opener that required a stint on injured reserve. The former Chiefs draft pick started all 11 of his appearances during his first season in Cleveland in 2023, finishing with 54 tackles. The Browns’ safety corps have struggled with health this season, but when whole, Thornhill should return to his starting spot alongside Grant Delpit.

Chubb’s activation does not count toward the Browns’ in-season activation total, which now sits at five following today’s Thornhill transaction.

Browns’ Nick Chubb To Return In Week 7

October 16th, 2024 at 8:40am CST by Adam La Rose

OCTOBER 16: In a Players’ Tribune essay, Chubb pointed to this timeline being accurate. The seventh-year running back is planning on debuting in Week 7. The Browns appear set to activate the Pro Bowl back from the PUP list before their matchup with the Bengals.

OCTOBER 13: Nick Chubb returned to practice when first eligible, a positive sign with respect to his rehab process. The standout Browns running back now has a firm target to make his 2024 debut.

Chubb is expected play in Week 7, as first reported by Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. The Browns opened his 21-day activation window on October 2, and to no surprise the team has elected to remain patient in evaluating his practice showings. No setbacks have occurred, though, positioning Chubb to suit up against the Bengals seven days from now. A separate Cabot piece notes the 28-year-old will have the final say on when he suits up in a game setting.

After a major knee injury suffered in Week 2 last year, Chubb underwent two separate procedures as part of his recovery process. Cleveland remained committed to the four-time Pro Bowler, but team and player agreed to a restructured contract in the offseason which saw Chubb take a pay cut. He is also a pending free agent as a result of that agreement, so his ability to return to his previous form will be critical for his short- and long-term future.

The Browns entered Sunday ranked 30th in the NFL in rushing yards per game, and their offense as a whole has struggled mightily this season. Cleveland has been held under 20 points in each of the team’s first six games, becoming the first team to do so in a decade (h/t ESPN’s Field Yates). Getting Chubb back could provide a major boost in the backfield.

Jerome Ford took over as RB1 after Chubb went down last year, and he has remined a key figure on offense in 2024. The former fifth-rounder exited today’s contest due to a hamstring injury, however, so any missed time would leave Cleveland thin in the backfield. That would add further value to Chubb’s return, something which will be confirmed once he is brought off the reserve/PUP list. Doing so will not count toward the Browns’ in-season activation total, which currently sits at four and will drop by one when fellow back Nyheim Hines returns from the NFI list.

Chubb recorded between 1,067 and 1,525 yards each season from 2019-22, averaging no fewer than 5.0 yards per carry during that span. Remaining among the league’s most efficient rushers upon return would pay considerable dividends for the Browns as they look to rebound from a 1-5 record. Likewise, Chubb’s market value would move in a positive direction if he were to regain his Pro Bowl form once he is back on the field. Provided the coming days of practice go as planned, he should be available for Cleveland’s next contest.

Browns Designate Nick Chubb For Return; Nyheim Hines Back At Practice

October 2nd, 2024 at 10:57am CST by Sam Robinson

The rumored Nick Chubb return to practice is a go. The perennial Pro Bowler will work out with his Browns teammates starting today, with the club making it official.

This is a long time coming for Chubb, who underwent two knee surgeries following a severe injury sustained in Week 2 of last season. Additionally, the Browns will have Nyheim Hines and offensive lineman Michael Dunn back at practice. All three players, although they were on three different lists, each have 21-day return windows. Not being activated in that span would cause them to miss the rest of the season.

Chubb resided on Cleveland’s reserve/PUP list; he does not count against the team’s in-season activation total. By virtue of being designated for return (from the reserve/non-football injury list and reserve/non-football illness list, respectively), Hines and Dunn already count toward the Browns’ eight-activation number. Cleveland has six injury activations remaining as we hit IR- and NFI-activation season.

Although Chubb did not fully tear his ACL, he suffered other damage from the sequence in Pittsburgh. Chubb, 28, tore an MCL and sustained medial capsule and meniscus damage, leading to this year-plus return timeline. The seventh-year veteran is not expected to debut immediately, as could be expected, but the Browns having him back at practice is a good sign for his availability this season. It makes sense the Browns will want to see him ramp up once cleared to practice; the PUP-return window allows for that.

This is also a long time coming for Hines, who has been on the shelf since suffering a torn ACL from a freak jet ski accident in summer 2023. Hines was not moving during the July 2023 accident, as another jet ski crashed into him. He spent last season on the Bills’ reserve/NFI list, and Buffalo cut him with a non-football injury designation this offseason. The Browns then picked up the ex-Colts passing-down back/return man but delayed his return via the NFI stash.

For the time being, Cleveland will continue to rely on Jerome Ford as its starting RB. The Browns’ primary Chubb fill-in last year, Ford is averaging 5.2 yards per carry. As a team, however, the Browns rank 26th on the ground. They have D’Onta Foreman, Pierre Strong and Gary Brightwell on its 53-man roster, but reinforcements — which should change Cleveland’s backfield hierarchy — are coming.

The Browns and Chubb agreed on a reworked contract that doubled as a pay cut this offseason, and the four-time 1,000-yard rusher is due for free agency in 2025. The RB market showed signs of reawakening this offseason, giving Chubb motivation. To fetch a notable third contract, however, Chubb will need to show signs of his pre-injury form. The Browns will hope Chubb can help a struggling Deshaun Watson, who has spent most of his time as Cleveland’s QB1 without the consistent ball-carrier.

Formerly a Colts extension recipient, Hines was dealt to the Bills before the 2022 deadline. He returned two kickoffs for touchdowns in Buffalo’s regular-season finale that year and, in addition to two punt-return TDs, has two 400-yard receiving seasons on his resume.

Browns To Open RB Nick Chubb’s Practice Window

September 29th, 2024 at 10:22am CST by Rory Parks

The struggles of Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson have been a key storyline in Cleveland in the early stages of the 2024 season, and as the team continues to hope for a turnaround from its high-priced passer, it appears that a key piece of the offensive puzzle will be returning fairly soon. Per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, the Browns will open the practice window for running back Nick Chubb – who is currently on the PUP list – on Wednesday.

Once that happens, the Browns will have three weeks to activate Chubb, and if they do not do so within that timeframe, the four-time Pro Bowler will be forced to miss the entire season. Although Rapoport cautions that Chubb is unlikely to return to game action in Week 5, the fact that Cleveland is getting him on the practice field obviously means that the club expects him to be ready to suit up in short order.

His presence will be most welcome. Through the first three weeks of the campaign, the Browns rank 31st in total offense and in the bottom-10 in terms of rushing yards per game. Their ground attack is presently paced by Jerome Ford and D’Onta Foreman, and while Ford has performed well (5.0 yards per carry on 29 totes), Foreman has struggled, and Chubb is one of the game’s best backs when healthy.

Unfortunately, a brutal knee injury sustained in Week 2 of the 2023 season threatened not only Chubb’s future in Cleveland, but his entire playing career. His injury required two operations, and he opened training camp on the PUP list. Unsurprisingly, he remained on the list through final roster cuts, which required him to miss the first four games of the season.

Player and team agreed to a reworked contract this offseason, and although Chubb accepted a pay cut as part of the restructure, he need only be on the active roster for 12 games to collect a $225K roster bonus (incentives allowing him to recoup some of the money he was originally owed are also present). Between that and the fact that Cleveland is opening Chubb’s practice window in the next couple of days, it would seem that a Week 6 return is in play.

Chubb’s reworked deal did not include additional years of club control, so he will still be a free agent at season’s end. Needless to say, a return to his previous stellar form – he boasts a career 5.3 YPC average on 1,238 carries – would represent a major boon to his future earning power and to the Browns’ 2024 fortunes.

Browns Will Leave RB Nick Chubb On PUP List To Begin Season

August 26th, 2024 at 9:51am CST by Adam La Rose

Nick Chubb is expected to play at some point in 2024, but he will not be available at the start of the campaign. The Browns will keep him on the PUP list in September, as first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

This moves comes as little surprise, but it guarantees the Pro Bowl running back will miss at least the first four games of the season. Chubb has made progress in rehabbing the major knee injury which ended his 2023 campaign and required two operations to repair. As expected, Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports recently confirmed Cleveland will opt for a slow ramp-up period once Chubb is available to practice.

The Browns put an end to speculation about the 28-year-old’s future by restructuring his contract this offseason. As Ian Rapoport of NFL Network notes, that revised pact includes a roster bonus, something which generally requires a player remaining healthy for all 17 games. In this instance, however, only 12 games are needed for Chubb to collect that $225K payment. The Georgia alum took a pay cut as a result of the restructure, but incentives are in place which will allow him to earn back at least some of the money he was originally owed.

Cleveland will move forward with Jerome Ford atop the running back depth chart for the time being after he took over RB1 duties following Chubb’s injury. Nyheim Hines was added in free agency as a pass-catching option and returner, while Pierre Strong Jr. and D’Onta Foreman are also in place as backups. It remains to be seen if both Strong and Foreman will survive roster cuts, but the fact Chubb will receive the reserve/PUP designation certainly helps their chances of doing so.

As a pending free agent, Chubb has plenty at stake in 2024. His ability to return to his previous form (5.3 yards per carry average, including at least 5.0 in each of his six seasons) will be a key storyline to watch for himself personally and the Browns as a whole. Cleveland’s offense now features Jerry Jeudy in the receiving corps, and a full season from quarterback Deshaun Watson could offer potential in the passing game. The team’s offense will nevertheless welcome Chubb back into the fold, but he will take the field no earlier than Week 5.

Browns Notes: Chubb, Vrabel, Cooper, Hicks

August 16th, 2024 at 6:46pm CST by Adam La Rose

Nick Chubb‘s 2023 season ended with a major knee injury which required two surgeries to repair. The four-time Pro Bowler started training camp, as expected, on the active/PUP list. He could be activated at any point, but missed time to start the campaign would come as no surprise.

A roster projection from The Athletic’s Zac Jackson predicts Chubb will begin the season on the reserve/PUP list (subscription required). Such a designation would require at least a four-game absence as Chubb continued to recover. The 28-year-old’s Week 1 availability has been a question mark throughout the offseason, although Cleveland has remained optimistic he will be able to suit up at some point in 2024.

Chubb agreed to a pay cut this offseason, putting to rest speculation the Browns could move on. Only one year remains on his contract, however, so returning to full health and his previous form will be critical for his future. Once roster cutdowns take place later this month, a decision on placing Chubb on the PUP list or leaving the door open to a debut before Week 5 will be made.

Here are some other notes out of Cleveland:

Mike Vrabel did not land a head coaching position after his Titans ouster, but he joined the Browns in March. The 49-year-old will work as a consultant on Kevin Stefanski‘s staff. Those efforts have included work in a number of capacities this offseason, but Vrabel said (via Tony Grossi of The Land on Demand) he will not have a role on gamedays. Needless to say, an under-the-radar gig in 2024 will likely not help his chances of landing a HC (or coordinator) job during the 2025 hiring cycle.
Wideout Amari Cooper worked out a restructure by having most of his base salary converted into a signing bonus and $5MM in incentives added for 2024. On the latter point, Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports notes the pending free agent will collect $500K for a second-team All-Pro nod or $1MM for first-team honors. A five-time Pro Bowler, Cooper has yet to receive All-Pro recognition during his career. In addition, Jones details that he will receive between $1MM and $4MM based on individual and team performances. A season of 1,251 or more yards without a playoff berth would land on the low end of that range, while 1,400+ yards and a Super Bowl would lead to maximum earnings.
Linebacker Jordan Hicks has been out of practice since August 4 with an undisclosed injury, and Stefanski called him “week to week” (h/t Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk). The 32-year-old signed a two-year, $8MM pact in free agency and he is slated to start at linebacker with his new team. Being to return to the field for even a brief period before Week 1 would thus be a welcomed development for team and player in his case.

Browns Place Nick Chubb, Jedrick Wills, Jack Conklin On PUP List

July 24th, 2024 at 11:00am CST by Sam Robinson

The Browns entered their wild-card game without Nick Chubb and both their starting tackles. Although Deshaun Watson has returned after missing the stretch run, Cleveland remains without its Pro Bowl running back and tackle tandem.

Chubb joined Jedrick Wills and Jack Conklin on the Browns’ active/PUP list to open training camp Wednesday. Neither Wills nor Conklin participated in Browns minicamp, working off to the side. Conklin, however, said this month he expected to be a training camp participant. That will not take place at the outset. Chubb is coming off two knee surgeries, making his placement on the camp injured list unsurprising.

Players stationed on the active/PUP list can be activated at any point during camp, as teams do not have to make decisions pertaining to the reserve/PUP list — which sidelines players for at least four games — for a few weeks. Chubb can be considered a candidate for that list, but it would surprise if Conklin or Wills did not return to practice soon. Conklin sustained ACL and MCL tears in Week 1 of last season, while Wills went down with an MCL sprain in December.

Now in a contract year, Wills will need to bounce back to earn a lucrative deal — either via a Browns extension or as a 2025 free agent — after missing nine games last season. Given the nature of the former first-rounder’s injury, it is a bit surprising he remains out of the mix regarding full work. Wills’ MCL issue did lead to surgery, however. The 2020 draftee has started all 53 games he has played in Cleveland, joining Conklin — a 2020 free agency pickup — as the team’s starters in that span.

Conklin, 30 in August, has seen knee injuries play a regular role during his NFL career. He went down midway through the 2018 season with an ACL tear — a setback that contributed to the Titans declining his fifth-year option — and missed 10 Browns games due to a torn patella tendon in 2021. The knee maladies are piling up for Conklin, whom the Browns extended late in the 2022 season. But the former first-round pick is expected to man Cleveland’s RT post again soon.

Given a substantial pay cut this offseason, Chubb is attempting to make his way back from two knee surgeries performed last fall. Chubb did not sustain a full ACL tear, though he did tear an MCL fully, in Week 2 of last season. But the Browns are expected to be cautious with the perennial Pro Bowler. It is not yet known when Chubb will be unleashed this season, and it would not surprise to see the team stash him on the reserve/PUP list. Though, that would create questions at running back for the AFC North club.

In addition to Chubb, the Browns have free agent signing Nyheim Hines rehabbing a major knee injury. The former Colts and Bills RB landed on Cleveland’s active/NFI list, as the injury he sustained while on a jet ski in 2023 has sidelined him for over a year. Hines is aiming for a return during camp. The Browns, who added D’Onta Foreman as RB insurance, also placed DT Dalvin Tomlinson on their active/PUP list with a knee issue. Greg Newsome landed on Cleveland’s active/NFI list with a hamstring injury. Safety D’Anthony Bell is also on the Browns’ PUP list.

Browns RB Nick Chubb Progressing In Rehab; Return Timeline Still Unclear

June 6th, 2024 at 11:38am CST by Adam La Rose

After Nick Chubb‘s 2023 season was cut short by a major knee injury, it was obvious he would face a long road back to the field. The standout Browns back is not a lock to be available at the start of the season, but he is making progress in his recovery.

Chubb, as expected, required two surgeries to repair the damage done to his knee in Week 2. The second operation took place in November, and its success kept him on track to return at some point this season. The Browns are not committed to a firm time at which the four-time Pro Bowler will suit up, but they have operated this offseason as if he will remain a key member of their offense.

“I’m getting better every day, taking it day by day, getting better,” Chubb said when speaking about his health status (via NFL.com). “Yeah, just right now, trying to get stronger. I like where I’m at. I’m where I need to be, I would say that.”

With only one year remaining on his contract, questions were raised in the offseason about Chubb’s short- and long-term future in Cleveland. As a further sign the team had him in their plans, the Georgia alum agreed to a restructure which lowered his cap hit and base compensation. Incentives will allow him to earn back some of his previously scheduled money, but his ability to do so will largely hinge on his return timeline.

Chubb confirmed he does not have a specific target in mind with respect to when he will be back on the field, adding he only recently started “moving really well.” Having him in any capacity would be a major development for Cleveland at any time during the campaign, though. The former second-rounder averaged between 5.0 and 5.6 yards per carry in each of his first five seasons in the NFL, topping 1,000 rushing yards each year from 2019-22. He should be able to take on lead RB responsibilities when healthy in a backfield featuring the likes of Jerome Ford, D’Onta Foreman and Nyheim Hines.

“Definitely a blessing,” Chubb added when speaking about his reworked contract and the fact he will remain with the Browns through at least 2024. “They could have just cut me dry and left me hanging, right, but they did a great job. I want to be here in Cleveland – they know that – so we came to a great point.”

Whether or not that feeling is mutual to the point of a new deal being negotiated next offseason will be worth watching as the campaign unfolds. Chubb’s health will be a key determining factor in when he next sees the field and how effective he is upon doing so. That will have a major impact on his post-2024 future with the Browns or another team.

Browns Rework Nick Chubb’s Contract

April 11th, 2024 at 8:51am CST by Adam La Rose

Ahead of free agency, signs pointed to Nick Chubb remaining with the Browns as he continues to recover from the major knee injury which ended his 2023 campaign. That will indeed be the case, with team and player working out a revised contract for the upcoming season.

The four-time Pro Bowl running back has agreed to a restructured deal, Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network report. Chubb has lowered his base salary ($11.78MM) for 2024, the final year of his contract. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler notes that figure will now check in at $6.28MM. His scheduled cap hit – $15.83MM – will unsurprisingly come down as well, Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com adds.

Incentives are in place on this new arrangement, which will give Chubb the opportunity to earn back the $12.2MM in total compensation he was previously due. Much of his ability to do so, of course, will depend on when he is able to return to game action. Cleveland expects the 28-year-old to play at some point in 2024, and in the event that happens both sides will enter next offseason with more clarity regarding his future in the organization.

The high cap hit the Browns were set to carry in the final year of Chubb’s deal led some to speculate he could become a cut candidate. However, the team has remained confident the former second-rounder can return to his pre-injury form upon receiving medical clearance. Chubb has undergone two operations aimed at repairing the damage done to his MCL during Week 2 of the 2023 season. Prior to that injury, he had generally been healthy throughout his career.

The Browns’ run game is at its best with Chubb in the picture, and the team took a step back in production on the ground without him last year. Cleveland was not among the big spenders at the RB spot during free agency, but both pass catcher/returner Nyheim Hines and journeyman D’Onta Foreman have been added on one-year deals this offseason. They will join incumbents Jerome Ford and Pierre Strong in the backfield to start the season.

Cleveland entered Thursday with $3.9MM in cap space, one of the lowest figures in the league. The Browns’ financial situation remains tight in large part because a new restructure has not been agreed to with quarterback Deshaun Watson; the latter is set to carry a cap hit of $63.77MM in 2024 as things currently stand. While it will be interesting to see what happens in Watson’s case, Chubb’s immediate financial future has been clarified.

Browns Not Planning RB Addition; Latest On Nick Chubb

February 22nd, 2024 at 10:00pm CST by Adam La Rose

With the new league year not far away, many teams around the NFL have begun restructures and cost-shedding releases to become cap compliant. In the case of the Browns, many have pointed to running back Nick Chubb as a potential cap casualty.

Chubb has one year remaining on his deal, and he is due a non-guaranteed base salary of $11.78MM for 2024. The four-time Pro Bowler will carry a cap hit of $15.83MM, though, which has resulted in speculation he could be let go in a cost-cutting move. His recovery from a major knee injury is a factor in the Browns’ decision, but Chubb should be expected to remain with the organization.

The team will engage in preliminary discussions on a Chubb extension, Mary Kay Cabot of cleveand.com notes. Talks could commence as soon as the upcoming Combine, she adds, although both sides will no doubt await clarity on his rehab before entering into a multi-year agreement. The Browns expect the 28-year-old back at some point in 2024, and a new deal would ensure he remained in place as a focal point of the offense when healthy.

Given the signs pointing to Chubb being retained, Cabot unsurprisingly adds the Browns will not be in the market for a high-priced RB addition this offseason. A number of intriguing backs are set to hit the market, including Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, Josh Jacobs, Austin Ekeler and Tony Pollard. Rather than investing in one of them as Chubb insurance, though, Cleveland will lean on internal options. The Browns have Jerome Ford and Pierre Strong in place as candidates for a significant workload in Chubb’s absence if he misses the beginning of the campaign.

Both the Ravens and Texans have been connected to a running back pursuit this offseason, and they will have several choices given the number of backs set to be available. Another veteran in that category is Kareem Hunt, who has spent the past five seasons in Cleveland. Cabot confirms the Browns are not interested in another deal for the former Pro Bowler, though, meaning he could be in store for another lengthy wait on the open market.

The Browns are currently over the cap by a margin of nearly $20MM, though the team has a number of restructure candidates to carve out financial breathing space. Chubb could be one of them, but an extension would lower his 2024 cap hit while marking a sign of confidence from Cleveland that a full recovery is expected. It will be interesting to see how much urgency exists from team and player when talks begin.

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