Nick Chubb cleared a significant checkpoint on his road back to an NFL field when he returned to practice this week.
It was the first time Chubb had taken a practice field since Week 2 of the 2023 season. Understandably, the moment was magical for the Cleveland Browns' four-time Pro Bowl running back.
"It didn't feel real. It felt like a dream," Chubb told reporters on Thursday. "I've been battling this for a while now. It was great to get all that off my shoulders and finally get back out there."
Chubb's 21-day window to return to the active roster officially opened this week, rounding the corner toward the finish line that has at times seemed incredibly far off for the running back. He'll be back before long, and when the time comes, Browns fans will be overjoyed to see No. 24 taking the field.
There will be some underlying concern, though. Chubb's knee injury was only the latest in a career that has seen a couple of them in the past. And at 28 years old, there's no guarantee he'll ever recapture the elite form that has seen him rush for 1,000 yards in four of his six NFL seasons.
There's also the mental hurdle that comes with returning from a significant injury to play in the blindingly fast environment that is an NFL game. Fortunately for Chubb, he has some experience with returning from such injuries.
"I don't think so," Chubb said when asked if he was worried about getting hit in his legs. "Once you get out there and you're running around, it's like you're eight years old again. It's like riding a bike. That's not something that's in my head. I mean, you can't control that. So I'm gonna go out there and play fast."
Luckily for Chubb and the Browns, his knee feels good, so much that he said so multiple times Thursday.
A question remains regarding Chubb's projected impact on Cleveland's offense: Can their banged-up offensive line block well enough to take advantage of his skills? The Browns rank in the bottom third of the NFL in expected rushing yards per carry (4), 23rd in success rate on rushing plays and are only running the ball on 34.5 percent of their total offensive plays through four games. They're the only team that isn't generating a positive or negative outcome in terms of expected points added per carry, sitting at exactly zero. Jerome Ford has carried the ball just 39 times in four games, gaining an average of 5.2 yards per attempt, but the running game has been noticeably secondary at best in a Browns offense that ranks 31st in total yards per game and 26th in rushing yards per game.
Chubb's arrival could change that. But it's not as simple as plugging in an elite running back and expecting that part of the offense to take off.
Chubb isn't concerning himself with all of this data, though. He's just focused on preparing to play for the first time since Sept. 18, 2023.
"I was just hoping to get back at some point," Chubb said. "I never had a date set in mind. Just whenever I felt good and was available to go out there, I was gonna try to go, and that's right now."
