Browns reveals chances of star running back Nick Chubb returning for week 6
The Cleveland Browns have not committed to Nick Chubb returning for a Week 6 game against the Philadelphia Eagles, but he is getting close.
Chubb returned to practice last week, which gave him a 21-day window to be added to the active roster. Both the Browns and Chubb have been hesitant to provide a precise schedule for his return, which was reinforced on Wednesday when head coach Kevin Stefanski was questioned about his star running back’s condition.
“I think really with all the guys, and Nick especially, it’s really a day-to-day thing,” Stefanski told reporters. “Watch how they come out of today. Let’s see how they do on Thursday. “I am not going to rush any decisions.”
Chubb has been similarly cryptic regarding his return date.
“I was just hoping to get back at some point,” Chubb explained last week. “I never had a specific date in mind. I was going to try to go whenever I felt good and had the time, which is right now.”
Chubb suffered a serious knee injury in Week 2 against the Pittsburgh Steelers last season. He missed the rest of the season and underwent two additional surgeries to repair his ACL and MCL.
There was early optimism about Chubb’s availability for Week 1, but those predictions proved overly optimistic.
Browns’ Offense Needs Spark From Nick Chubb
The Browns offense is searching for a spark. Cleveland ranks near the bottom of the league in almost every major offensive category, including rushing, where it averages 96.6 yards per game. Jerome Ford has borne the majority of the load for the Browns, totaling 250 yards on 48 carries. He has scored one running touchdown.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (25 carries, 131 yards) and D’Onta Foreman (29 carries, 93 yards) have also contributed.
Chubb has established himself as a solid and steady runner. Throughout his career, he averages 5.3 yards per carry. The Browns, who are still searching for an offensive identity, have lacked consistency in their productivity.
“It’s just kind of just finding those adjustments, finding those things that we want to do and be perfect at those,” Watson told me. “And keep the game simple; don’t try to accomplish anything beyond what we’ve seen previously or what we’re trying to do. We really simplify the game as much as possible so that we can get out there, execute, and play quickly without having to think too much.”
Browns Stick With Deshaun Watson at QB
The Browns are not intending to bench Watson, who has been one of the league’s worst quarterbacks this season. Watson has only passed for 852 yards, 5 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions this season and has been sacked a league-high 26 times.
Watson has not been solely responsible for the team’s troubles, but he has also not been a part of the answer. It’s not what the Browns expected when they signed him to a $230 million full-time guaranteed contract in 2022 following a stunning trade.
There has been a nationwide uproar for the Browns to bench Watson, but the team is not concerned with the outside noise.
“I talk to Deshaun every week, every da,” Stefanski stated. “I think respectfully, we have to focus on what’s going on inside of our building and not necessarily pay attention to what’s going on outside the building.”
Watson and the Browns have an opportunity to turn things around against the Philadelphia Eagles this Sunday.
