Having been sidelined with a bad knee injury for over a year, it appears that Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb is still a little way off when it comes to a possible on-field return. The 28-year-old has undergone two surgeries on his left knee, and though he has been involved in post-practice workouts, there is seemingly no rush to get the 2018 NFL Draft pick back into play.

Chubb featured heavily in his first five seasons at Cleveland Browns Stadium, but his 2023 season was cut short after he suffered a serious injury in NFL Gameweek two, the same knee that saw him sidelined in 2015.

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Chubb, who is a four-time Pro Bowl pick, is expected to return in 2024, but as and when that may occur is still open to debate.

The franchise’s general manager, Andrew Berry, provided an update on the situation, stating,

“We’re really happy to see where he is as we enter camp, and we look forward to him to continue to improve the health of the knee,” but still has “a little way to go”, added Berry.

Berry was a model of consistency across the last four full seasons with the Browns, rushing for over 1000 regular season yards on each occasion; indeed, even in his rookie campaign, he reached 996 yards.

Missing out on such a crucial part of the team’s attacking intent is something that would impact any NFL side, but Berry believes the Browns have sufficient cover,

“We were pleased with how the running game turned out throughout the year,”

“Obviously, Nick is one in a million and maybe one in a billion and so we’re not going to get the consistent, explosive runs that you get with the best back in football. But we also do firmly believe that the run game is predominantly predicated on strength of the offensive line and then the actual scheme. Obviously, when you have a difference-maker like Nick and someone who can create at the level that he can, he can truly elevate that area of the game. But we did have to learn to run without him and were able to do it effectively enough. But obviously Nick is a difference-maker.”

Head coach Stefanski has also discussed the situation,

“You don’t replace players like that,”

“Obviously, people have to pick up some slack and that type of thing. But he’s, again, this is not breaking news, but he’s a huge, huge part of what we do.” He added.

And this is where Cleveland enters something of a catch-22 situation. Clearly, with Chubb on board, they are a more feared proposition, but bringing him back too early, and potentially then losing him with another season-ending injury, would prove catastrophic. Hence the decision to take things slowly and surely is perhaps the best course of action to take.