Kevin Stefanski updates the status of rehabbing RB Nick Chubb, QB Deshaun Watson

Imagine how much stronger the Cleveland Browns could have been if two of their offensive stars had survived though the end of the season. But signs are good that Nick Chubb and Deshaun Watson will be back for this fall.

Kevin Stefanski, the reigning NFL coach of the year, updated the injury status of both Browns during a media availability from the owners meeting in Orlando. As all Browns fans know, Chubb suffered a scary knee injury during the second game of the season and needed two surgeries to fix.

“I’m excited for Nick,” Stefanski told reporters. “He’s doing a great job with his rehab as everybody can imagine. We’ll just make sure that we continue to make decisions based on him and the medical staff. But excited about Nick.”

Unfortunately for Chubb, the running back has a history of knee issues, dating back to his days at Georgia. But he always bounced back as a better runner. Leading up to last season, Chubb had earned spots in the last four Pro Bowls. Still, as he rehabbed his knee, NFL insiders debated whether the running back was a candidate to be waived by the Browns. One predicted he would be a salary cap casualty.

It is unclear when Chubb will return. It usually takes a year to recover from ACL surgery. He went through that in early October last season.

Watson met new Browns offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey during recent visit in LA

Meanwhile, Stefanski and new offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey recently flew to Los Angeles to visit with Watson, who had shoulder surgery in late November.

The Browns coach said they spent a day in LA with their starting quarterback. It represented the first time Dorsey and Watson had met in person as Browns.

“He’s in a great place physically,” Stefanski said of Watson. “It’s beautiful out there. He’s doing a great job with his rehab. Really, it was more of a me checking in with him, and starting to develop a relationship with Ken was really the most important part.”

The Browns survived through major injuries last season to make the first round of the playoffs. In fact, Cleveland needed five different starters at quarterback. They ended the year with Joe Flacco under center. Flacco, the NFL Comeback of the Year, recently signed with the Colts. He can be a good mentor to Anthony Richardson, who is headed into his second season after missing most of the year after shoulder surgery.