Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys are no strangers to making headlines. They did it again after the NFL Draft, acquiring wide receiver George Pickens in a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Now, NFL legend Chad Johnson is pushing the team to make another splashy move — this time at a position of need — by signing a four-time Pro Bowler.
Chad Johnson Urges Dallas Cowboys to Sign Free Agent RB Nick Chubb
The former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver took to X to send a direct message to Jones and the Cowboys organization. “Dear Jerry Jones, Nick Chubb is right there,” Johnson posted.
Dear Jerry Jones, Nick Chubb is right there ⭐️
— Chad Johnson (@ochocinco)
Chubb, who turns 30 in December, is coming off the worst season of his NFL career — but not without reason. In a Week 2 game against the Steelers in 2023, Chubb suffered a gruesome knee injury that sidelined him for the rest of that season and half of 2024. The injury included a fully torn MCL and additional ACL damage.
In 2024, Chubb carried the ball 103 times for 332 yards and three touchdowns, averaging a career-low 3.3 yards per carry across eight games. It marked the first time his yards per carry dropped below 5.0 and was his second-lowest rushing total in a season, trailing only 2023, when he played in just two games.
Now, more than a year removed from the injury, there’s hope Chubb might resemble the player he was before. From 2019 to 2022, he ran for over 1,000 yards in four straight seasons, including a career-high 1,525 yards in 2022.
Recent video footage shows Chubb working out and looking healthy ahead of training camp, which could help boost interest from teams in need of running back help.
Running Back Nick Chubb
No days off. Just work. Locked in.. pic.twitter.com/3sOHYxLKYT— Brad Lester (@BradLester1)
The Cowboys are a logical potential landing spot. Chubb is now a free agent after spending his first seven seasons with the Cleveland Browns. Dallas let Rico Dowdle leave in free agency and brought in veteran backs Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders, while also drafting Jaydon Blue in the fifth round.
Like Chubb, Williams is coming back from a major knee injury. It occurred in 2022, and he hasn’t looked the same since. Over the last two seasons, Williams has totaled just 1,287 rushing yards and isn’t a lock to start in Dallas.
Sanders, meanwhile, hasn’t returned to his 2022 Pro Bowl form. After signing with the Panthers in free agency, he was leapfrogged by Chuba Hubbard and eventually cut after just two seasons. Carolina also used a second-round pick on Jonathon Brooks.
It remains to be seen whether Chubb can return to pre-injury form. But if he can, he’d be a logical fit for the Cowboys, who don’t have a clear-cut starter in the backfield. Both Chubb’s future and the Cowboys’ backfield situation will be worth monitoring as the season gets closer.