Former Pro Bowl running back Nick Chubb is closing in on a deal that will give him an opportunity to reboot his career with one of the AFC’s top contenders. According to a report from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport on Sunday, Chubb is expected to sign with the Houston Texans on Monday if all goes well with his physical.
It would be an intriguing addition to a Texans offense that could use some depth at running back, and a potentially good situation for Chubb to show he can still be an effective runner in the NFL.
At his peak with the Cleveland Browns, Chubb was one of the best running backs in football and rushed for 1,000 yards in four of his first five seasons in the NFL. The only season he fell short of that was his rookie season when he rushed for 996 yards in 16 games (only nine starts). He appeared in four Pro Bowls and was a second-team All-Pro in 2022.
But starting with the 2023 season, injuries started to take their toll on his career.
The first of those was a devastating leg injury in a Week 2 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers that sidelined him for the 2024 season. He finally returned in Week 7, appearing in eight games before his season was again cut short over the final three weeks.
When he was healthy and on the field, he was a shell of his former self, rushing for 332 yards on 102 carries. It was the first time in his career that he did not average at least five yards per carry in a season.
Given his age (he turns 30 in December) and the recent injury history, the Texans should probably keep expectations for Chubb in check. He is probably not going to return to his All-Pro level or be much of an impact player. But if he can give them a healthy season as part of a rotation or as a depth back, he might still have something left to offer a contender.
If nothing else, it is a good roll of the dice. There is very little risk, and at least the potential for a reasonably high reward.
