Nick was an inspiration to his teammates even after not playing following a severe knee injury in Game 2. (ClevelandBrowns.com)
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
Hyberbolic reports of an “uncertain future” for Browns running back Nick Chubb can cease and desist.
Chubb’s future, in fact, is certain. His future is with the Browns, as it should be, as he continues his indefatigable recovery from two surgeries on his severely damaged left knee.
Chubb and the Browns agreed to a restructuring of the last year of his contract..
A new deal was inevitable even if Chubb had not suffered that gruesome injury – on a low, awkward hit by Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick on a short-yardage Chubb run – in Game 2 in Pittsburgh last season.
The details of the restructuring are not yet known.
The bottom line is that the Browns will continue to oversee Chubb’s return to the field at some point in the 2024 season.
Chubb was due to make $12.2 million in salary and per game bonuses in in the last year of his contract in 2024, with a salary cap figure of $15.825 million. Chubb had no guarantees left in the contract. The Browns, conceivably, could have cut him and incurred a paltry $4 million dead cap figure with an overall savings of $11 million + on their salary cap.
But that wasn’t going to happen because Chubb is revered in the locker room and in all aspects of the organization, not to mention an adoring fan base.
The specifics of the restructuring – which have not been accurately reported because they are not available – will probably provide Chubb with a much lower salary but some guaranteed money and incentives to approach his previous $12.2 million 2024 income.
The timetable for Chubb’s return to the field is what is uncertain. Chubb is striving to be ready in September but it’s more likely it would be closer to the middle of the season.
At NFL owners meetings in Orlando, FL, two weeks ago, Browns GM Andrew Berry said Chubb was slated to begin running in March and that his availability would be better known within the next three months. Which means the Browns will have a better gauge of Chubb’s return before the team breaks for summer vacation.
As insurance, Berry signed free agent running back D’Onta Foreman to replace Kareem Hunt as a short-yardage specialist and Nyheim Hines to double as a receiving back and return specialist. The Browns intend to head into the 2024 season with a running back-by-committee approach consisting of Jerome Ford, Pierre Strong, Foreman and Hines.
The Browns are reconfiguring their running game to accommodate Deshaun Watson’s preference to operate the offense primarily out of the shotgun formation.
To that end, the Browns replaced offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt with Ken Dorsey, and replaced run game coordinator/running backs coach Stump Mitchell with former UConn offensive coordinator Nick Charlton, who was given the title of run game specialist. Duce Staley was hired to replace Mitchell as running backs coach.
Also, the defection of offensive line guru Bill Callahan can not be overstated, as it pertains to the running game and philosophy. Callahan devised the Browns’ running game that was so effective in four years under coach Kevin Stefanski.
The hiring of Dorsey certainly means the offense will change. Dorsey will seek to maximize Watson’s skill-set with a shotgun, spread formation pass offense. The running game most likely will suffer. It did in Buffalo, where Dorsey served as offensive coordinator before being fired on November 14.
But Chubb’s return – perhaps in November this year – would be a shot in the arm at a time the Browns could be playing playoff-meaningful games.
That is why the Browns were wise to assure Chubb’s return in 2024 – and possibly beyond – with a new contract. Chubb simply is one of the top running backs in Browns franchise history. There are three Hall of Famers – Marion Motley, Jim Brown and LeRoy Kelly – and then Chubb.