Quarterback wasn’t the only position decimated by injuries on the Cleveland Browns. Even before QB1 Deshaun Watson went down, followed by P.J. Walker and Dorian Thompson-Robinson, the Browns sustained one huge blow to their offense — losing prized Pro Bowl running back Nick Chubb.
Looking Back at What Happened to Nick Chubb
Chubb’s season came crashing down early on Monday Night Football against the rival Pittsburgh Steelers on Sept. 18, 2023.
Chubb took the handoff from inside the 10-yard line. However, he got rolled awkwardly and ended the play grabbing his left knee. He then attempted to try to get up under his own power, to no avail. A medical cart was forced to take Chubb into the locker room.
Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski called Chubb’s injury “significant” after the game. Ultimately, Chubb would end up on injured reserve (IR) for the rest of the season.
The four-time Pro Bowler ended his season settling for just 28 carries for 170 yards and didn’t score a touchdown — a first for his career. That ailment occurred following his epic career-best 1,525-yard season of 2022.
How Did the Browns’ Ground Game Perform After Chubb’s Injury?
Not having Chubb presented the first hurdle for the Browns to scale. Who was going to shoulder the ground load and take pressure off Watson and company?
Four months after Chubb’s horrific injury, the new question becomes: How did Cleveland’s ground game perform post-Chubb?
Turns out the Browns didn’t fully miss a beat without their go-to back. Here’s how Cleveland’s rushing attack fared the rest of the way:
- Ranked 12th overall in total rushing yards.
- Delivered a streak of five straight games of surpassing 100 total rushing yards from Oct. 15 to Nov. 12.
- During that run, the Browns gashed two of the league’s best through their ground attack — 160 yards against the San Francisco 49ers and 178 against the Baltimore Ravens.
- Cleveland still scored 15 team rushing touchdowns, enough to rank 14th in the NFL.
The Browns even discovered one breakout performer.
Who Broke Out for Cleveland After Chubb?
Cleveland ended up signing familiar face Kareem Hunt to offset the Chubb injury. However, it was a lesser-known name who introduced himself to the masses.
Jerome Ford became that guy in “The Land.”
MORE: Cleveland Browns Depth Chart
The 2022 fifth-round selection out of the University of Cincinnati stepped up big for the Browns’ offense. Ford would go on to deliver two 100-yard games and provide some added versatility for the offense.
He proved to be a reliable target for Cleveland’s cycle of quarterbacks from Watson, Walker, DTR, and all the way to Joe Flacco. Ford added five receiving touchdowns and ended the regular season with nine total TDs.
Through it all, Ford touched the ball 248 times and accumulated 1,132 all-purpose yards. He became one of the best-kept secrets of the Dawg Pound, but that’s not to say Hunt wasn’t impactful. Despite being a late addition to the team, the veteran RB went on to lead the team with nine rushing touchdowns.
Despite losing their most prized running back, the Browns discovered their backfield is more than Chubb. Now, they must shoulder that load some more to extend their season come Saturday.
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