Running back Nick Chubb made headlines after the draft when he posted a clip of his intense workout routine. And based on a recent report, it looks like the Jacksonville Jaguars will have to deal with him next season.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Media announced that Chubb is slated to sign with the Houston Texans if he passes his physical on June 9th. Other outlets confirmed the news around the same time. If things go as planned, the four-time Pro Bowl nod will join a crowded running back room that already includes Joe Mixon and Dameon Pierce.
At first sight, the move is a bit odd, since Mixon is coming off a 1,000-yard season, the fifth of his career. Similarly, Pierce crossed the 1,000-yard mark as a rookie in 2023. Having said that, Houston isn't passing up the chance to bolster a unit that could potentially turn out to be a strength for the Jags' division rivals.
On the other hand, the Texans had better hope the moves they made across the offensive trenches pan out. After trading Laremy Tunsil to the Washington Commanders, they signed the underwhelming Cam Robinson (remember him?). On top of that, they added Laken Tomlinson and Ed Ingram. However, it's hard to say that the trio is a significant upgrade over the players they're replacing.
Either way, Jacksonville cannot overlook the fact that Chubb could give them fits if he's truly back at full strength. Similarly, Houston remains the team to beat in the AFC South until proven otherwise.
Chubb, a third-round selection in 2018, had spent his entire career with the Cleveland Browns. However, injuries hampered his performance and limited him to 10 games the past two years. But before that, he appeared in 75 games with 68 starts and toted the rock 1,210 times for a jaw-dropping 6,341 yards with 48 touchdowns from 2018 to 2022.
The Jaguars will be ready to contain Nick Chubb and the Texans
The Cleveland Browns no longer saw Nick Chubb as the key contributor he was early in his career, so they picked up Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson in the NFL Draft this past April. Maybe they wanted to get younger at the position, or perhaps they thought he was no longer the same player. But regardless of the reason, the Jacksonville Jaguars will have to deal with him in 2025. Working in their favor is that they made upgrades to their defensive front.
After the draft, the team's brass inked Emmanuel Ogbah, Dawuane Smoot, and Dennis Gardeck. The trio will round out a rotation that includes the dominant pass rush tandem of Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker. On top of that, Arik Armstead will switch back to defensive tackle, where he's found the most success throughout his career.
Another thing that could help Jacksonville dominate the line of scrimmage is that everyone will be leaner after being asked to put too much extra weight on last year. Aside from making them faster, it will increase their stamina throughout football games.
Ultimately, it may be too early to tell whether Nick Chubb can recapture his Pro Bowl shape. But whether he does or not, the Jaguars will be ready to take on the challenge.
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