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Browns devastated about Nick Chubb's broken foot, say they must play final 3 games for him
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- Browns devastated about Nick Chubb's broken foot, say they must play final 3 games for him
CLEVELAND — As Nick Chubb exited Huntington Bank Field on crutches with his left foot in a walking boot, the beloved Browns running back again entered an uncertain future.
Chubb suffered a broken foot in Sunday's 21-7 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs , Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said.
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After coming back from a devastating left knee injury, Chubb will be sidelined for the final three games this season, and he is not under contract for 2025. He's scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in March.
Count left guard Joel Bitonio among the members of the Browns (3-11) who want to see the franchise re-sign Chubb instead of allowing an 8-yard run with 11:46 left in the third quarter against the Chiefs (13-1) to be his final carry with Cleveland.
"I think if Nick Chubb wants to be a Brown, he'll be a Brown next year," Bitonio said. "That's all I got for that. I think he's earned that, and they'll figure something out."
Browns running back Nick Chubb carries the ball against the Kansas City Chiefs, Dec. 15, 2024, in Cleveland.
Stefanski said he believes Chubb had his foot stepped on. One play later, Chubb limped to the sideline after quarterback Jameis Winston faked a handoff and lost 1 yard on a keeper. Accompanied by medical personnel, Chubb walked to the locker room with 6:52 remaining in the third quarter and never returned.
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"That sucks," Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy said. "Knowing everything Chubb has been through, all the adversity he faced, I know it's tough. But knowing Chubb, knowing the type of person he is, he's not going to let that faze him. He's going to bounce back and be stronger than he ever was."
Chubb played eight games this season. He rushed 102 times for 332 yards (3.3 average) and three touchdowns and caught five passes for 31 yards. Chubb didn't speak to media Sunday, but he has repeatedly explained this season he had yet to regain his form as a four-time Pro Bowl selection. Although he rushed nine times for 41 yards (4.6 average) against the Chiefs, he also dropped and bobbled a pass linebacker Nick Bolton intercepted and lost a fumble on the Cleveland offense's first two plays of the second half.
Chubb, who will turn 29 on Dec. 27, suffered a gruesome left knee injury for the second time in his life on Sept. 18, 2023, against the Pittsburgh Steelers . He underwent two surgeries last year to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament, medial capsule, meniscus and medial collateral ligament. He had suffered three torn ligaments, all but the ACL, in the same knee as a University of Georgia sophomore on Oct. 10, 2015, against Tennessee .
"I've gotten to have a first-row seat to what he's been able to do," Stefanski said, referring to Chubb's latest comeback from a knee injury. "I can't tell you how much I respect him as a person, what he means to this football team.
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"[I'm] really, really disappointed about this [foot] injury. It does not change the fact that he continues to inspire this football team with how he approaches every single day, and I know this is just another obstacle that he will overcome."
Browns quarterback Jameis Winston looks to hand the ball to running back Nick Chubb against the Kansas City Chiefs, Dec. 15, 2024, in Cleveland.
Several of Chubb's teammates said they didn't know he had suffered a broken foot until reporters asked them about it.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo and quarterback Doran Thompson-Robinson called the development "heartbreaking." Safety Juan Thornhill said the Browns must "play for Nick" in their final three games.
"There's not a more hardworking, just resilient individual in the locker room," defensive end Myles Garrett said. "He just has to continue to face some adversity like this, and it's just tough to see because, man, he's one of the cornerstones. He's every bit a part of the foundation as myself, [cornerback] Denzel [Ward], and it's tough to see him have to go through this, and we want to be there for him in every way possible. But it's a real frickin' shame."
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Browns running back Nick Chubb is tackled by Kansas City Chiefs defenders Mike Danna (51) and Drue Tranquill (23), Dec. 15, 2024 in Cleveland.
The Browns reworked Chubb's contract last offseason, ensuring he could make his comeback with them. His next contract will likely be another incentive-laden deal.
Drafted by the Browns in the second round in 2018, Chubb said Wednesday he wants to retire with Cleveland.
"It's important," Chubb said. "I started here. I'd like to finish here."
Browns column: Cleveland should re-sign Nick Chubb, a hero in his first game against the Pittsburgh Steelers since knee injury
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A broken foot is the most recent hurdle to emerge.
"It's brutal," Bitonio said. "I thought he was starting to flash something, too. We were blocking a little bit better for him, and he was starting to make some plays for us. I was hoping these last few games we'd get him back on track a little bit, but it's tough.
"I don't think this is — I'm not a doctor — but as serious as obviously some of the other stuff. So just give it a little bit of time to heal, and he'll have all offseason to get back. A lot of those knee injuries are a year and a half, two years anyway, so hopefully he can get back to feeling great and be the Nick Chubb we love."
Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich .
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Nick Chubb's broken foot creates uncertain future with Browns
