Browns RB Nick Chubb addresses current state of knee injury rehab: 'I like where I'm at'

Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb still doesn’t know when he’ll return to football, a part of his life he calls a “blessing.” But he’s making progress as he recovers from multiple knee surgeries.

Chubb, the former Georgia star who has made four Pro Bowls in Cleveland, spoke to the media this week for the first time since last September. In the second week of the season — a Monday Night Football game against the Steelers — Chubb suffered a severe knee injury. In fact, it was so significant that he needed surgery to repair the meniscus and MCL in the days after the game. Then in November, surgeons went back in to work on his ACL, the main stabilizer.

this team showed up to support @NickChubb after his injury pic.twitter.com/qN2UQuvYsR

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) June 5, 2024

By April, Chubb was back to running on dry land. He’s with the Browns as his teammates go through OTAs. He’s there rehabbing his left knee.

“It’s a blessing to play this game,” Chubb told reporters. “You can’t take it for granted because in one play, it can all be taken away. I’m just blessed to have so much support around Cleveland, the fans, my friends, family, just to keep me uplifted and keep me going.”

As for his return? That’s not on the calendar, as yet. “I’m just taking it day by day. It’s Wednesday. I had to get better today on Wednesday. That’s my whole mindset.”

He added: “I’m getting better every day, taking it day by day, getting better. Yeah, just right now, trying to get stronger.”

Back in April, the Browns and Chubb reworked his contract, lowering the base while adding incentives to keep his money about the same if he can get back on the field. He was supposed to earn $11.775 million.

Unfortunately, Chubb is all too familiar with severe knee injuries. He suffered one at Georgia, back in 2015, when he was approaching some of the team rushing records set by Bulldogs great Herschel Walker. But he rebounded from that injury and became a second-round NFL draft pick and NFL star.

But the injury from September was particularly gruesome. ABC producers wouldn’t even show the replay. It was Chubb’s 10th carry of the game. Steelers linebacker Cole Holcomb appeared to have wrapped him up. But safety Minkah Fitzpatrick hit the running back at knee level.

The Browns running back talked about the play when he met with the media this week. Chubb doesn’t blame Fitzpatrick. Right after the play happened, Fitzpatrick told Chubb that he never intended to hurt him.

“I don’t think it was a dirty hit at all,” Chubb said this week. “I’m not blaming (Fitzpatrick). It’s part of the game.”

He added: “I was down in September. I mean, I didn’t start moving really well until kinda lately. So now, it’s feeling good to be able to move around. … I like where I’m at. I’m where I need to be, I would say that. The biggest thing for me is getting better every day.”