Nick Chubb's return to Pittsburgh will be more emotional for him than the game in Cleveland.
You must have an active subscription to read this story.
Click Here to subscribe Now!
Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
Takeaways from Browns interviews …
Nick Chubb hid his emotions the first time he played the Steelers since his severe knee injury last September.
Nevertheless, Chubb’s two touchdowns in the Browns’ 24-19 win over the Steelers on November 21, especially the game-winning TD, were emotional moments for his teammates and Browns fans.
But now that Chubb will be returning to the scene of the injury in Acrisure Stadium on Sunday, he admits there is a different feeling this time around.
“I’d be lying if I said I haven’t thought about it, going back to that place where it happened last year,” Chubb said. “But besides that, I’m all excited about playing the Steelers.”
Pressed on what thoughts are in his mind, Chubb said, “Just going back there and knowing how it was last year, the last time I played there, everything that happened, just being grateful that I’m able to run and play football again and move around. I think [my feelings are] more just the gratitude of going back there and being healthy.”
In six games since returning from 15 months of intense rehab on his surgically reconstructed left knee, Chubb has rushed for 243 yards on 82 attempts for a 3.0 average, which is about 60% of his career average. He is not unhappy with his progress.
“I think it’s just time [away from football],” Chubb said. “Just not being out there for a while. Just not playing football for a while. That’s the biggest thing.”
Asked how close he is to being 100%, Chubb said, “I have no idea. When it happens, you’ll be able to see it.”
Hard Knocks, Episode 1
Because they are division cellar-dwellers, the Browns played a small part in Episode 1 of “Hard Knocks In Season,” which focuses on every team in the AFC North.
The major scene featuring the Browns centered on an offensive line meeting conducted by assistant offensive line coach Roy Istvan. In the short snippet, Istvan riled up his troops for Monday night’s game against the Broncos with an emotional appeal to protect “the Chief,” a.k.a. quarterback Jameis Winston. Istvan tossed 15 f-bombs in about a minute and a half in the scene.
Since Cleveland media has rarely been exposed to Istvan, who left the Eagles to join the Browns this season, I asked Kevin Stefanski if that was Istvan’s typical personality or if he played to the HBO cameras.
“First of all, as it relates to Hard Knocks, nothing [is] staged,” Stefanski said. “I think we’re just … you’re coaching and what they pick up, they pick up. Roy does a great job in our meetings and each one of our coaches has a different area that they present to the players and sometimes you get excitable.”
Burrow's Batmobile
Also on Hard Knocks, Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow revealed to receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins that he purchased an officially licensed and fully functional Batmobile.
According to ESPN, there are only 10 of the custom vehicles available for the price of $2.99 million each. Burrow said he wouldn’t receive the Batmobile for a year and he might use it to drive to Bengals home games while wearing a Batman suit.
Now, Chubb is a renowned fan of the Batman legacy, so I asked him what he thought about Burrow’s revelation.
“I didn’t watch hard Knocks but I saw it on Instagram or Twitter,” he said. “That’s fine, he can buy it.”
Is Chubb interested in buying a Batmobile?
“No, I’m not. I already have one,” he said, tongue-in-cheek.
Brownie bits
The deciding Pick 6 in Denver after the 2-minute warning came when Broncos cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian made a good play against Elijah Moore, fell down with the ball, got up and ran 46 yards for the winning touchdown in Denver’s 41-32 victory. Moore didn’t make an attempt to touch McMillian down. He explained, “I thought I did [touch him], but when I looked back [on video] I didn’t. So I have to do a better job of having awareness and making sure I do a great job of running back and touching him.” …
A huge play in the Denver game was Bo Nix connecting with speedster Marvin Mims being covered by linebacker Jordan Hicks. Cornerback Denzel Ward reacted to the play and nearly deflected the pass, but Mims outraced the defense for a 93-yard touchdown and 28-17 Denver lead. What defensive call could possibly leave Hicks, 32, in coverage of Mims, who posted a 4.38 40-yard dash at the 2023 NFL combine? “It was a variation of Tamp 2,” Hicks said. “I have to run in the middle of the field. Obviously, I got to know personnel and get myself deeper situationally. I know he has some burners, but, sheesh, 30 yards down the field … it was a lot. To me, it was a great pass. It was inches from Ward being able to make a play on it, but I have to do better on that. … It’s not man-to-man on him. I have a deep zone [assignment]. You look around the league and every team around the NFL runs that coverage.”
Stefanski said that receiver Cedric Tillman remains in concussion protocol, but “there’s a chance” he could see the practice field before Sunday’s game in Pittsburgh.