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 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 suffered 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.