Nick Chubb possessed all the tools of a bell cow backfield star from what he showed in 2019 through 2022. That all changed after a gruesome leg injury ended his 2023 campaign in the second game of the season.
Chubb's return to the field last season was lackluster at best, averaging 3.3 yards per carry on 102 touches in a reserved rile with the Cleveland Browns. It was a sharp and set turn of fate for Chubb who was set to be a cornerstone piece of the franchise's built to consistent contention.
But just two years after that Week 2 contest in September of 2023, Chubb was an offseason afterthought eventually scooped up by the Houston Texans.
It's the harsh reality of the NFL and one that his own teammates had trouble coming to terms with. Browns defensive star Myles Garrett opened up about his time with Chubb, revealing his own efforts pleading with the higher ups to keep his teammate in town.
“That was part of my talks with (Andrew Berry) a couple of months ago, asking about the situation with Nick and how that’s going to work out, and how we can get him back here,” Garrett said. “I know he means a lot to the fans, but he means a lot to us in the locker room. So, it’s an emotional blow to not have him here."
After it all, Garrett has nothing but praise for Chubb though he knows there is a crop of players ready and able to positively impact this Browns offense.
“But we’ve got to keep on moving, keep on trucking. We’ve got some very talented backs in that room, some young, hungry guys who have a hell of an example to watch and some shoes to fill. But he’s one of the best to ever do it in the Brown and Orange, and we appreciate everything he’s done.”
Looking through a more positive lens, this is the second chance Chubb yearned for all offseason and advocated for through his own promotion. If he can build off that momentum and make an impact in Houston, that achievement should be celebrated.
However, it will be hard for Garrett, his teammates and Browns fans not to wonder what could have been had his career not taken such a nasty turn.