'I mean, it's Nick Chubb': Browns running back leaves mark on Bengals | Takeaways
CLEVELAND — You could find the Browns defense's fingerprints all over the season-opening 24-3 rout of the Cincinnati Bengals. So, too, were quarterback Deshaun Watson's and kicker Dustin Hopkins'.
There was another set of prints that covered the Browns' second consecutive opening-day win. They're the same set of prints that have covered plenty of wins over the last five-plus seasons.
Those set of prints belonged to running back Nick Chubb. He ran for 106 yards on 18 carries — the sixth time in 10 career games against Cincinnati he's gone over the century mark.
Chubb did it despite, as has been the norm for him, not playing a snap in the preseason. Turns out, the All-Pro out of Georgia, who silently slipped out of the locker room after the game, didn't need them at all.
"I mean, it's Nick Chubb," Watson said afterward. "He's the best in the world, best in the league. And he's going to continue to plug, he's going to continue to run hard. First game for him, so I know he was a little bit winded but he kept doing what he needed to do and he ended up getting over 100 yards. I wish he could have gotten the end zone a couple of times but he's going to have more opportunities for us."
It seemed fitting that Chubb would clear the 100-yard mark for the 29th time on the same day the only back to do it more in Browns history was honored. The team recognized the legacy of the late Jim Brown throughout the game, from tribute logos on the field and the left chest of the Browns' jerseys to a halftime ceremony involving a spoken-word message and a live painting.
That tribute also involved Chubb, who carried the "32 flag" — also in Brown's honor — onto the field when the team ran out of the tunnel at the beginning of the game. He then passed it on to Aris Brown, the Hall of Fame back's son.
Once the game began, Chubb paid tribute with his performance. Six of the Browns' first 11 plays involved Chubb, including two of his team-high four receptions.
That's right. For all the talk of all of the Browns' different pass catchers, even there Chubb quietly stole the spotlight.
"Nick gives you his best at the office every single day," Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said. "What he did out there from beginning to end, we tried to hand it to him, throw it to him. And then I thought Jerome (Ford) was good in his relief as well. But fun to see Nick get going there for a little bit."
Jack Conklin's unfortunate injury opens door for Dawand Jones
Right tackle Jack Conklin's knee injury was the last thing anyone wanted to see. The two-time All-Pro has battled through a multitude of injuries since coming to the Browns in 2020, from a season-ending patellar tendon in 2021 to an ankle injury last season to even a preseason concussion this year.
Official word on Conklin's injury status is expected Monday after an MRI is performed on his left knee. However, all indications are it is, in Stefanski's words, "it doesn't look good."
Which leads to rookie tackle Dawand Jones, the massive fourth-round pick out of Ohio State who came on for Conklin when he went down and played the remainder of the game.
"Honestly, first thing I thought about was praying for him, praying for his family," Jones said after the game. "Hopefully he turns out all right, hopefully he’s OK. Just like everybody told me during the week, next man up. You’ve got to always be ready, honestly."
For Jones, it was an early call to action. However, much of what he's done since his rookie minicamp has seemed earlier than expected.
Jones didn't feel like his first regular-season action was flawless. What it wasn't was fatal to the Browns' overall offensive performance.
"I’ve got to really thank (offensive line coach Bill) Callahan. He got me to the point I am right now," Jones said. "It’s only just a start. I’m just getting started. I’ve still got work to do, still improvements."
Improvements that may have to happen rather quickly. While Jones isn't locked in as the full-time replacement for Conklin in the starting lineup, it would appear that he's candidate No. 1.
That means, should that be the case, Jones will be at right tackle when the Browns head to Pittsburgh for next Monday night's game against the Steelers. Which means lining up against T.J. Watt, who has 15 career sacks against the Browns.
Which is a problem for next week.
Quick takeaways on Jim Schwartz's fronts, Bubba Ventrone's coverage units, Jerome Ford's rebound
The different ways Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz utilized his linemen through Sunday's game was something to behold. It wasn't just the decision to flip sides with Myles Garrett and Za'Darius Smith, with the former lining up over Bengals right tackle Jonah Williams several times over the course of the afternoon. He also brought out a five-linemen front, with Garrett and Smith flanking Dalvin Tomlinson, Shelby Harris and Jordan Elliott. There were also times where he essentially had Garrett and linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. in two-point stances over the center-guard gaps. "Our D-coordinator give us the opportunity, just cut us loose and that's big up to Schwartz, man," Smith said. "He knows what type of guys he have up front. Every guy can play every position. So moving around is big for us. And as you can see today, it worked perfectly."
Chalk one up for new special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone. It's a limited sample size, but it was clear the Browns' coverage units came ready to play Sunday. Chris Evans had a long of 27 yards on two kickoff returns for the Bengals, while Charlie Jones averaged just eight yards on three punt returns. They also came close to blocking one Brad Robbins punt, as Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah nearly got his hands on one. As for the Browns' return game, they didn't get a chance to return a kickoff, while Donovan Peoples-Jones averaged five yards on three punt returns.
Jerome Ford couldn't have asked for a worse way to open his season. His very first carry was a 6-yard gain that ended with him fumbling at the Cincinnati 13. That neither deterred him nor Stefanski, who trusted him enough to run him 14 more times, including the game's final eight rushing attempts. Ford finished with 36 yards on 15 carries, which won't set the world on fire, but at least allow him to get some of the rust off after having missed the entire preseason with a hamstring injury.
Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on Twitter at @ceasterlingABJ
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Nick Chubb leaves mark on Browns opening win over Bengals: Takeaways
