Browns' star Chubb undergoes second knee surgery, expected to return in 2024
Nov. 14—Nick Chubb suffered a season-ending knee injury Sept. 18 that took two surgeries to repair. Doctors at University Hospitals in Cleveland did the second part of the surgery Nov. 14 — almost two months after the Browns' star running back was hurt in a game with the Steelers in Pittsburgh.
"Browns running back Nick Chubb underwent his scheduled second surgery today to repair the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) as part of his knee injury sustained in the September game against the Steelers in Pittsburgh," according to a statement released by the Browns. "Team Head Physician James Voos, MD, performed the surgery at University Hospitals Drusinsky Sports Medicine Institute.
"Dr. Voos considered today's surgery successful and added that Nick's recovery has progressed very well following his first surgery in late September. As previously announced, the estimated recovery time from these surgeries indicates that Nick would be able to return to play during the 2024 season."
The first surgery repaired the medial collateral ligament that was torn when Chubb was tackled by Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick.
The MCL "runs from the inside surface of the upper shin bone to the inner surface of the bottom thigh bone. This ligament keeps your shin bone (tibia) in place," according to pennmedicine.org. The ACL "is a ligament in the center of the knee that prevents the shin bone (tibia) from moving forward on the thigh bone (femur)."
The statement from the Browns does not project when in 2024 Chubb might be ready to play again. Head coach Kevin Stefanski has repeatedly said Chubb is at the team's training complex, but Chubb has not made himself available to the media.
Chubb rushed for 996 yards as a rookie in 2018 and then posted four straight seasons of 1,000-plus yards. He set a career record in 2022 with 1,525 rushing yards. He was off to another good start — 170 yards on 28 carries, a 6.1 yards per carry average — before he was injured.
The Browns signed Kareem Hunt to a one-year contract one day after Chubb was injured. Hunt already knew the offense because he had been with the Browns from 2019-22, but he had to work himself into football shape. He has scored at least one touchdown in five straight games — the longest active streak in the NFL.
Stefanski and offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt have successfully turned the Browns into running back by committee in Chubb's absence with Jerome Ford, Hunt and Pierre Strong sharing the workload.
Over their last five games, the Browns have rushed for 160 yards (vs. 49ers), 150 yards (vs. Colts), 155 yards (vs. Seahawks), 113 yards (vs. Cardinals) and 178 yards Nov. 12 when they beat the Ravens, 33-31.
The only game the Browns lost in that stretch of games was the one in Seattle, and they were leading, 20-17, until a late interception thrown by P.J. Walker was turned into a game-winning drive by the Seahawks.
Ford is 13th in the NFL in rushing with 532 yards. He has seven games left to crack the 1,000-yard barrier.
STEELERS AT BROWNS
When: 1 p.m., Nov. 19
Where: Cleveland Browns Stadium
Records: Steelers 6-3, Browns 6-3
TV: WOIO
Radio: WKRK-FM 92.3, WNCX-FM 98.5, WKNR-AM 850
