The Cleveland Browns (1-5) need some reinforcements on offense after becoming the first team in 10 years to score under 20 points in each of its first six games of the season.
The Browns may get just that in Week 7.
According to ESPN reporter Daniel Oyefusi, star running back Nick Chubb, who has been sidelined since suffering a season-ending knee injury in Week 2 of last season, is expected to make his season debut when Cleveland hosts the Cincinnati Bengals (2-4) this week.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski didn’t confirm his availability for Sunday, but he hinted that, given Chubb’s progress, there’s a good chance.
“Yeah, Nick’s working very hard,” Stefanski said via Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk. “Just spent some time with him just now. He’s going to take this thing day by day and see where we go. But this only comes with hard work.”
It would be perfect timing if Chubb can complete his comeback this week. Running back Jerome Ford, who had been filling as the lead back during Chubb’s absence, suffered a hamstring injury in Week 6 and is now considered “week-to-week.”
It remains to be seen if Chubb will return as the same player he was before his injury, but if he can, it would be a massive boost to the Browns offense, which is averaging the fewest total yards per game (240.2) and third-fewest points per game (15.8) in the NFL.
Since entering the league in 2018, Chubb has averaged 5.3 yards per carry while rushing for 6,511 yards and 48 touchdowns. He also has 123 catches for 1,011 yards and another four scores.
That could force people to have unreasonable expectations for Chubb in his return, but Stefanski isn’t worried about that.
“I’m not so concerned about that,” Stefanski added. “I mean, I understand the question. I think for me and for Nick and for this team, he just wants to do his job, whatever that may be, but we’re not getting too far ahead of ourselves. Really just worried about the day-to-day with him.”
Only time will tell when the 28-year-old will debut, but if that happens this week, Cleveland will be ecstatic.
