Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb will require a second surgery on his knee later this year, putting his availability for the start of the 2024 NFL season in jeopardy.
Facing the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sep. 18, Chubb’s knee was hit directly by Steelers’ safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. Cleveland carted him off the field and soon ruled him out for the remainder of the season.
- Nick Chubb stats (career):Â 6,511 rushing yards, 48 rushing touchdowns, 5.3 yards per carry
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In the days following Chubb’s knee injury, preliminary reports suggested the Pro Bowl running back could return for Week 1 in 2024. Doctors believed there was a chance Chubb’s ACL wouldn’t require surgery, accelerating his timeline for a return.
Unfortunately, that’s no longer the case. The Browns announced on Saturday night that Chubb underwent surgery on Friday to repair damage sustained to his medical capsule, meniscus and medial collateral ligament.
Those surgeries alone would’ve given Chubb a chance to recover in time for the start of the regular season in 2024. However, doctors determined during the procedure that Chubb’s ACL needs to be repaired. He will undergo a second surgery to repair his ACL in the next few months.
- Nick Chubb contract:Â $14.85 million cap hit in 2023, $15.825 million cap hit in 2024, 2025 NFL free agent
While a specific timeline for Chubb’s ACL surgery wasn’t announced, the further it is in the future resulting in the higher likelihood that Chubb will miss multiple games next season.
In Chubb’s absence, the Browns have turned to Jerome Ford and Kareem Hunt as their primary running backs. While the Indianapolis Colts can trade Jonathan Taylor as of Monday, a deal isn’t imminent and reports suggest the Browns were not heavily involved in Taylor’s trade market after Chubb suffered his season-ending injury.