For the first time in 2024, Nick Chubb stepped on the Cleveland Browns field in uniform.
That’s right, after suffering an absolutely brutal injury in 2023 that called his long career into question, Chubb was back in the starting lineup and immediately got to work, rushing for 22 yards on 11 carries plus a touchdown on the ground in a platoon with Pierre. Strong, D’Onta Foreman and Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who led all players in rushing yards.
On paper, those aren’t the best numbers for Chubb, but what does a former career running back have to say about his efforts? Well, it turns out that the Browns have a Super Bowl-winning running back on their team, Duce Staley, who is currently in place as the Browns’ RB coach.
When asked what he saw from Chubb in the game, Staley gave high marks to the Pro Bowler’s returnbecause he liked what the Pro Bowler produced in his first game.
“I did well. I remember coming here last week and telling you about the excitement in the building and Nick getting ready to play. And the most important thing is to protect Nick from Nick,” Staley told reporters.
“It’s funny because on the sideline, when he came out, and I was getting some of the staff ready to go in, every time I took two steps, he was right there. So I moved to the right, he’s right there. I was like, “Okay”… The first time, I was like, “I’m fine.” The next time I moved to the left, I turned to the right, he’s right there. I’m like, ‘Nick, how about you go, okay?’ [laughs]. So it was exciting, just the energy that he brought, of course, to the stadium, the energy that he brought to the team and being able to score a touchdown was awesome.
Interesting stuff, right? Well, wait, it gets even better, as Staley revealed Chubb’s impact on the game even when he wasn’t receiving touches.
Duce Staley praises Nick Chubb for serving as a decoy for the Browns
Continuing his conversation with reporters, Staley revealed how the Browns used Chubb as a decoy, forcing the Bengals to play him honestly even if the ball wasn’t coming his way.
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“I had them in practice. Just seeing him run like he did last week, just getting him ready for the week. And I think Kevin (Stefanski) did a great job of putting the pieces together, again making sure that we’re protecting Nick from Nick. Having him down to being a decoy, going out there and also getting the ball and not putting too much on him. I thought it was a tight game plan. But yeah, I saw Nick last week and I was excited for him.
A decoy? What does this mean? Well, Staley explained it in more detail, and frankly, it makes a lot of sense.
“Yeah, to be a red herring, that says a lot about all of your work over the years. And we know what Nick Chubb did here. We know what Nick Chubb brought to the league in terms of the work he did,” Staley noted. “But it has to be a mixture. Sure, you want him to be a decoy, but you also want him to have the ball. So coach (Stefanski) and I kind of talk about it, and like I said, coach does a tremendous job, man, putting him in positions where he’s going to get the ball but also be a lure.
Does Chubb’s return really bring some gravitas to the Browns’ offense that doesn’t necessarily appear when Strong or Foreman are on the field? Yes, even in his work-in-progress state, Chubb is still a scary player to face on an NFL field. Fortunately, as he continues his rehabilitation, the Browns can carry that reputation into the future, especially as they transition from a Deshaun Watson offense to one with Jameis Winston under center.
