Arguably nothing is more important to the Browns' 2024 outlook than the play of Deshaun Watson, who is returning from shoulder surgery and carries the highest cap hit of any quarterback this season. Nick Chubb's health might be a close second.
The Browns' running game took a major hit when Chubb went down with a devastating knee injury in Week 2 last season, leaving Cleveland's offense without one of the game's most dynamic running backs. Chubb avoided a career-ending scenario, but his path back isn't complete just yet.
Chubb will start the season on the PUP list, keeping him out at least four games. That's not unexpected, but it calls into question his status for the remainder of the season.
Here's what you need to know about Chubb's status for 2024 as he recovers from a knee injury.
DOMINATE YOUR DRAFT: 2024 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet
Will Nick Chubb play in 2024?
Chubb is still expected to play in 2024, and there is no indication the decision to keep him on the PUP list is the result of any setback.
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said at the start of training camp that Chubb was "progressing exactly where he should be" and "pushing it" with his rehab.
GM Andrew Berry refused to put a timeline on Chubb's return in July, admitting the running back had "a little ways to go" in his recovery. Chubb is now guaranteed to miss games against the Cowboys, Jaguars, Giants and Raiders.
The Browns seem content to take Chubb's recovery week-by-week without putting any expectations on his progress, but he's expected to return at some point during the season after undergoing multiple surgeries last season.
What was Nick Chubb's injury?
Chubb suffered a torn ACL, MCL and meniscus against the Steelers in 2023. He underwent surgery to repair the MCL and meniscus in September and went under the knife again in November to repair the ACL.
The initial prognosis was much better than expected for Chubb, as the Browns announced he was only dealing with an MCL tear. Surgery revealed the need for meniscus and ACL repair as well, extending his recovery by quite a bit.
Sept. 18 will mark one year since Chubb's injury, meaning his absence is guaranteed to last more than a year. Still, it appears he's on track to see the field at some point in 2024.
MORE: Latest injury update on QB Deshaun Watson
Browns RB depth chart
| RB | Player |
| 1 | Nick Chubb* |
| 2 | Jerome Ford |
| 3 | Pierre Strong Jr. |
| 4 | D'Onta Foreman |
* - Starting season on PUP list.
Chubb remains the Browns' top option at running back when healthy, but one would expect he and Jerome Ford to share touches when Chubb does return. Cleveland won't turn Chubb into a workhorse the second he steps back onto the field, making Ford a key component of the Browns' running game regardless of how Chubb's recovery goes.
Ford rushed for 813 yards and four touchdowns in 2023, averaging 4.0 yards per carry and adding 319 yards and five touchdowns through the air. He will enter the season as Cleveland's top running back.
Third-year RB Pierre Strong Jr. is also in the backfield mix after 291 yards on 4.6 yards per carry last season, though he suffered a rib injury late in training camp and could need time to get back on the field. That would leave D'Onta Foreman next up, and Foreman does have experience with 2,326 rushing yards over six NFL seasons. Foreman set a career-high with 914 yards on 4.5 yards per carry in Carolina in 2022.
Undrafted rookie Aidan Robbins, who finished his career at BYU, is next on the depth chart as he tries to find his way onto the Browns' roster.