Nick Chubb Injury Updates | Shark Bites

Browns HC Kevin Stefanski refused to give a timetable for RB Nick Chubb's return as OTAs kicked off on Monday. “I don’t know that we’ll go past today and this week at least that’s the way I’m looking at it,” Stefanski said. “I can promise you he’s working very hard early in the morning. He’s here, he’s attacking his rehab. That’s the best way I can put it. When he’s ready, he’ll be ready.” Chubb is working back from a nasty multi-ligament left knee injury that required two surgeries -- one in September and one in November. Stefanski's comments don't necessarily mean that Chubb is behind schedule in his rehab, but they're a reminder that his status for the 2024 campaign remains a major question mark. Chubb is a fairly easy avoid at his current RB27 best ball ADP. He sits 35th in our current RB rankings.

The Browns and RB Nick Chubb have agreed to a salary adjustment for 2024, the final year on his contract. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports that the change drops Chubb's cap hit from $15.85 million to $6.275 million -- with incentives that could bring his salary back up to $12.2 million. You could read this several different ways. It's positive that Cleveland didn't simply cut Chubb, which would have cost just $4 million in dead cap space, according to Spotrac. But Chubb's new salary knocks him to 11th among RBs in total money for 2024, behind Tony Pollard and Aaron Jones; barely ahead of Devin Singletary and Miles Sanders. Chubb no doubt believes he can achieve at least some of the performance incentives and drive that number back up. But it also appears he wasn't willing to test the open market for higher 2024 earnings. Ultimately, it's way too early for fantasy managers to know what we can expect from the veteran RB. Chubb's multi-ligament knee injury in September has required surgeries then and in November. We haven't seen much on his return timeline. The Browns, meanwhile, have added RBs D'Onta Foreman and Nyheim Hines this offseason. Both signed small, one-year deals that don't come close to guaranteeing offensive roles. (Hines probably arrives to primarily return kicks.) But they join Jerome Ford and Pierre Strong as backfield insurance. We're staying away from Chubb at his RB27 best ball ADP, which still has him ahead of Javonte Williams, Austin Ekeler, and Zamir White, among others. The crowded depth chart behind Chubb also makes it a risky backfield for investing in backups.

The Browns signed RB D'Onta Foreman to a one-year deal. Although he averaged just 3.9 yards per carry in Chicago last year, Foreman ranked 22nd in Pro Football Focus rushing grade, 22nd in Elusive Rating, and 26th in Rush Yards Over Expected Per Attempt among 49 qualifying RBs. That followed a career-high 914 rushing yards on 4.5 yards per attempt for the Panthers in 2022. Foreman is a quality depth addition for a Browns team that has RB Nick Chubb working his way back from a significant knee injury that will likely cost him at least part of the 2024 season. Foreman will team up with RB Jerome Ford for however long Chubb is sidelined.

Initial tests on Browns RB Nick Chubb's left knee revealed only a torn MCL, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports. Chubb's ACL was "stretched," but doctors don't believe it's torn. They won't know for sure until they get a better look at the knee during surgery, which is expected to take place next week. If all of this is confirmed, Chubb is expected to need six to eight months of rehab. That'd have him back on the field sometime between this coming March and May. It's excellent news after what initially looked like a much more significant injury. Turning 28 in December, Chubb's dynasty value has still taken a big hit. But there's now at least a chance he provides at least another season or two of useful fantasy production.

Browns HC Kevin Stefanski confirmed on Tuesday that RB Nick Chubb will undergo season-ending knee surgery to repair damage to multiple ligaments. We'll look for further details on Chubb's injury and timeline for return. It's certainly fair to question whether he'll be ready for the 2024 season opener.

Insider Jordan Schultz tweets that the Browns "fear" a season-ending knee injury for RB Nick Chubb. That's been the obvious assumption since the injury happened in the second quarter of Monday night's game in Pittsburgh. Schultz adds that Chubb is believed to have a dislocated knee and damage to multiple ligaments. We should get an official diagnosis within the next 24 hours. Chubb's 2023 is over. The question now is whether he can make it back for the start of the 2024 season. He turns 28 in December.

Browns RB Nick Chubb left Monday night's game in Pittsburgh on a cart after taking a shot to his left knee. ESPN declined to show replays of the injury, and Chubb could be seen denying a teammate who wanted to help him up immediately after. We'll watch for details on the injury, but it certainly doesn't look good. RB Jerome Ford entered and caught a TD pass on the ensuing play. (He then also ran in the 1-point conversion.)

Update: Chubb has been ruled out with a knee injury.

Browns RB Jerome Ford is not listed on the Week 1 injury report. He missed three weeks in August with a hamstring injury but is ready for Sunday's opener vs. the Bengals. We'll see how snaps are divvied between Ford and Pierre Strong behind lead back Nick Chubb. We're still projecting Ford as the Chubb handcuff.

Browns RB Nick Chubb (foot) does not carry an injury designation for Week 16. The workhorse back should be fine for Saturday's contest vs. the Saints. In what should be a bad-weather game, the Browns may look to give Chubb a good chunk of carries. Consider Chubb a low-end RB1 option in your lineup.

Browns RB Nick Chubb (foot) did not practice on Tuesday. The Browns' next game vs. the Saints is on Saturday. As such, Chubb’s absence from practice could merely be cautionary. We’ll still keep an eye on this as their Week 16 matchup gets closer. If Chubb were unable to suit up, Kareem Hunt would likely elevate on the depth chart and shoulder a good amount of responsibility against a Saints defense that ranks 13th in adjusted fantasy points allowed to RBs. Stay tuned.

Browns RB D'Ernest Johnson was placed on the COVID list on Monday. We'll see if he can get cleared in time for Sunday's finale vs. the Bengals. Johnson surprisingly out-snapped RB Nick Chubb 39 to 30 in the Week 17 loss to Pittsburgh but finished with just 14 yards on 6 touches. He'll be off the fantasy radar if RB Kareem Hunt returns from his ankle injury.

Browns HC Kevin Stefanski labeled RB Kareem Hunt "week to week" with his ankle injury and called him "unlikely" to play vs. the Raiders on Saturday. It sounds like Hunt could miss time beyond that. His absence will elevate D'Ernest Johnson to the #2 spot on the depth chart but ultimately mean more touches for RB Nick Chubb. In 3 games without Hunt this season, Chubb has averaged 17.3 carries and 1.7 targets. Johnson averaged 5.7 carries and 1 target across those 3 games.

Browns RB Nick Chubb (calf) is not listed on the final Week 8 injury report. He was a full-go in Friday's practice and will return for this weekend's game vs. the Steelers. Chubb will at least step back into his pre-injury role -- and it's plenty possible that he takes on even more with RB Kareem Hunt out with his calf injury.

Browns RB Nick Chubb (calf) got in a limited practice on Wednesday. He's expected back for Sunday's game against the Steelers, barring a setback over the next few days. Chubb could take on a bigger role than usual with RB Kareem Hunt out with his calf injury.

Browns HC Kevin Stefanski said Friday that he's "hopeful" to get RB Nick Chubb (calf) back for Week 8. We'll keep an eye on Chubb's status when Cleveland gets back to work next week. Despite RB D'Ernest Johnson's impressive outing in Thursday night's win over the Broncos, a healthy Chubb will be the Browns' feature back until Kareem Hunt returns from his calf injury.

According to multiple reports, Browns HC Kevin Stefanski says RB Kareem Hunt will miss at least 3 weeks with the calf injury he suffered in the loss to Arizona. "Hopefully not much longer than that, but we'll see," he said, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. We'll see about Nick Chubb's status for Thursday night's game against Denver. He, of course, missed the Cardinals game with his own calf injury. If Chubb can't go, Cleveland will be down to D'Ernest Johnson and Demetric Felton as backfield leaders. That would obviously mean touch-volume upside for both players. Just keep in mind that neither is likely to land in a workhorse role -- and that both are limited talents.