A season-ending injury for Nick Chubb hurts the NFL Browns

The NFL’s Cleveland Browns received devastating information following their 26-22 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers – large name running lower back Nick Chubb will miss the rest of the 2020 NFL season with a knee damage.

Chubb sustained the damage inside the first half after his leg become rolled up on inside the route of a deal with. He limped off the sector and did now not go back. An MRI confirmed Chubb tore his MCL, abruptly ending his NFL season after just six games according to Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski.

The loss of Chubb deals a major blow to the Browns’ offense and playoff hopes. Let’s break down the implications of this Nick Chubb injury on Cleveland’s season outlook.

NFL’s Rushing Leader Done for the Season

Through six games, Nick Chubb become main the NFL in speeding yards with 599. He was on pace for over 1,500 yards and double-digit touchdowns.

Chubb’s violent walking style, address-breaking capability, and explosive cutbacks have made him one of the league’s toughest backs to guard. The former second spherical choose earned Pro Bowl honours in 2018 and 2019.

Now, the Browns will must navigate the remainder of their agenda without the engine in their offense. Nick Chubb had hooked up himself as one of the top 5 walking backs in the NFL. Replacing his regular manufacturing and grind-it-out mentality between the tackles presents a big challenge.

Major Playoff Implications for the NFL Browns’

At 4-2, the Browns currently sit down in 2d place within the AFC North behind the five-zero Pittsburgh Steelers. They are very an awful lot alive inside the NFL playoff race after missing the postseason for 17 consecutive years.

However, Nick Chubb’s damage severely hinders their chances of creating the playoffs. The Browns have struggled to discover consistency on offense this season. Chubb became the one player they could lean on week in and week out. He took stress off the passing game and fashioned an elite one-two punch with Kareem Hunt.

Without Chubb pounding away at defences for the next 10 games, it will be difficult for the Browns to control the time of possession and limit turnovers. Scoring points has been a chore at times already this season. It will only get tougher without #24 in the backfield.

Cleveland has a manageable schedule the rest of the way, but Chubb’s production and reliability will be sorely missed. The Browns’ chances of catching the Steelers in the division and snagging an NFL Wild Card spot have taken a massive hit.

Hunt Now Leader of NFL Browns Backfield

The simplest brilliant spot is that the Browns have already got a discovered alternative for Nick Chubb at the roster in Kareem Hunt. Hunt, 25, is an elite runner in her very own proper.

In 2019, Hunt rushed for 841 yards and six touchdowns in just eight games for Cleveland and stuck 37 passes for 285 yards. When paired with Chubb, the duo was nearly impossible to slow down. Hunt has the talent to shoulder the load as a featured back.

There will be an adjustment period though. Hunt was the change of pace, third down back while Chubb did most of the heavy lifting. Now Hunt will have to take on the between-the-tackles pounding that Chubb thrived at. He will also have to play more snaps, conditioning that could take a toll down the stretch.

The good news is Hunt should be fresh, having only received 39 carries so far this season. Riding the tandem of Chubb and Hunt early in the year will now pay dividends for the Browns. Hunt is healthy and ready to be unleashed as the lead dog in the backfield.

Cleveland will need another monster season from the former NFL rushing champion if they want to stay in playoff contention without Nick Chubb.

D’Ernest Johnson Becomes Primary Backup NFL Browns

While Hunt will take over the starting role, the Browns will need a new backup to step up in Nick Chubb’s absence. That player will likely be third-year pro D’Ernest Johnson.

In 2018, Johnson went undrafted out of South Florida. After stints on the practice squad and playing in the AAF, he finally earned a role as Cleveland’s third string back and a core special teamer last season.

In 10 games in 2019, Johnson rushed for 165 yards on 33 carries (5.0 avg). He flashed burst and tackle-breaking ability in limited opportunities. Now Johnson will be counted on to spell Hunt and keep him fresh on early downs and in short yardage situations.

It’s a big jump from Johnson’s current role, but the coaching staff has confidence in him. He knows the offense and fits the system well. While he can’t completely fill Chubb’s shoes, Johnson should be able to handle 8-10 carries per game to ease the burden on Hunt.

Rookie Benny LeMay may also see an uptick in playing time depending on how quickly he can grasp the playbook. But early down work will likely fall on the shoulders on the veteran Johnson. Browns fans should expect to see #30 on the field on a regular basis going forward.

Offensive Line Must Shoulder the Load

Perhaps the group that will feel Nick Chubb’s absence most is the Browns offensive line. The unit is one of the strengths of the group, led by perennial Pro Bowlers Joel Bitonio and JC Tretter.

Cleveland’s offensive line has dominated combatants this season, ranking 2d inside the NFL in run blocking grade in keeping with PFF. They excel at opening huge lanes and driving defenders off the ball. Chubb’s physical running style was a perfect match for the aggressive front five.

Now, they will have to adjust to paving the way for the shiftier Hunt. The line will also need to play near perfect football going forward, as overcoming the loss of Chubb will require winning in the trenches each and every week.

Jack Conklin, Wyatt Teller, and rookie Jedrick Wills will have to raise their play. The big guys up front can help offset the missing production in the backfield by consistently winning their individual matchups and creating space for Hunt.

If the offensive line can continue to play at an elite level, it would go a long way towards keeping the Browns offense afloat. But the margin for error just got much smaller without Chubb churning out yards consistently each week.

Baker Mayfield Must Step Up Without Chubb

Perhaps no Browns player will feel the absence of Nick Chubb extra than quarterback Baker Mayfield. Since entering the NFL in 2018, Mayfield’s fulfilment has been directly tied to the energy of the walking recreation.

Mayfield thrived as a rookie with Chubb and Hunt carrying the load down the stretch. The one game Cleveland has won this season without Chubb (a 34-20 victory over Washington) saw Mayfield throw for 156 yards. That will no longer cut it.

To maintain the Browns in playoff competition, Mayfield will have to improve his stage of play notably. Through six weeks, he ranks simply twenty sixth inside the NFL in QBR. Mayfield has been plagued by inaccurate passes, poor decision making, and turnover issues.

Without the threat of a dominant run game behind him, Mayfield will have to stand and deliver in the pocket. The former #1 overall pick will have to make quicker reads, improved pre-snap adjustments, and better ball placement on critical third downs.

Mayfield has the talent and playmaking ability to put the Browns on his shoulders. Now, he must take his game to the next level for Cleveland to survive the loss of Nick Chubb. If Mayfield can recapture his late 2018 rookie form, the Browns can still challenge for the AFC North crown.

But another season of inconsistent, mediocre play at quarterback will make it impossible to overcome the missing production at running back. Mayfield now faces immense pressure to perform at a higher level beginning this Sunday versus the Cincinnati Bengals.

Defence Takes on Added Importance

The loss of Nick Chubb puts more pressure on Cleveland’s defence to step up their performance and keep games low scoring. The unit is off to an exceptional start in 2020.

The Browns rank seventh nice within the NFL in points allowed in step with game (22.2). Pass rusher Myles Garrett is playing at a First Team All-Pro stage, racking up six sacks already at the season. Denzel Ward is developing into a lockdown corner.

The defence will need to raise their game even higher to mask Chubb’s absence. Garrett must wreck gameplans every week. The secondary needs to clamp down on opposing receivers and force more turnovers. Stopping the run early and getting teams into third and long situations will be critical.

Cleveland invested heavily in their defence over the past several offseason. That decision will pay major dividends now, as the unit will have to carry a much larger load.

Bend don’t break defensive play will only get the Browns so far. For the defence, anything less than elite is no longer good enough to get Cleveland to double-digit wins.

Final Stretch Just Got Much Tougher Without Chubb

Looking at the Browns remaining schedule, surviving without Nick Chubb looks like an extremely daunting task:

Home vs Bengals
Home vs Raiders
At Bengals
At Giants
Home vs Texans
At Titans
Home vs Ravens
At Steelers
Home vs Eagles
At Jets
Home vs Steelers

Of those 11 games, only 3 look like guaranteed wins on paper (the pair vs CIN and at NYJ). The road trips to Nashville and Pittsburgh now look much more foreboding.

Cleveland still has 5 more contests against playoff contenders. Without Chubb’s steadying presence, going 6-5 or 7-four down the stretch might be a prime accomplishment.

For the Browns to make the playoffs for the primary time considering that 2002, they will should intestine out near, low scoring wins nearly every week. With Mayfield’s inconsistencies and a loss of offensive firepower, it’s hard to check this team occurring a prolonged prevailing streak.

The schedule was already tough. But the mountain the Browns must climb just got a whole lot steeper without Nick Chubb. Any hope of shocking the world requires Mayfield, Hunt and Garrett each elevating their play to superstar status.

The Bottom Line

Losing a top five NFL running back like Nick Chubb would decimate most team’s seasons. The Browns will certainly miss everything he brings to the table.

But Cleveland nonetheless has sufficient talent on each aspects of the ball to make a run at a wild-card spot. It will require near flawless play from Mayfield, the offensive line showing no drop-off, and the defense becoming elite.

Will the Browns be able to overcome the loss and end their lengthy playoff drought? The odds are now stacked against them, but in the parity-driven NFL anything is possible.

Overcoming the loss of their bell cow back and emerging as true contenders would make for one of the best stories of the NFL season. But there is no doubt the road just got significantly tougher for the orange and brown without Nick Chubb.

Conclusion

The loss of Nick Chubb comes at the worst possible time for a Browns team right in the thick of the playoff hunt. Chubb was the heart and soul of the offense, reliable for 100+ yards each week and anchoring the team’s smash mouth identity.

Kareem Hunt now takes over primary rushing duties. Baker Mayfield must eliminate mistakes and inconsistencies. The offensive line needs to be nearly flawless going forward. And the defence must step up and become a lockdown unit week in and week out.

It will take a true team effort for Cleveland to stay afloat. The margin for error is razor thin. How the Browns respond to this Nick Chubb injury will determine if one of the most painful playoff droughts in sports continues.