Bringing down Nick Chubb on the football field is a challenge few NFL defenders can claim to have mastered. However, a devastating knee injury last September managed to do what many defenders could not, albeit in a different way.
“I was mentally down for a while,” Chubb admitted after a Browns OTA on June 5. “Getting hurt is one thing, but getting hurt again and knowing the entire process – surgery, rehab – it’s a nonstop battle every day.”
Chubb, who will be the guest speaker at the Greater Akron-Canton High School Sports Awards, is no stranger to knee injuries. On September 18, Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick hit Chubb’s leg, leading to the second significant knee injury of his career. The first occurred in 2015 while Chubb was at the University of Georgia, where he tore three ligaments in the same knee.
Nearly nine years later, as Chubb lay on the field in Pittsburgh, he couldn’t help but ask, “Why again?” Despite the frustration, Chubb accepted it as part of his story.
Chubb’s injury required two surgeries. The first, on September 29, repaired damage to the medial collateral ligament (MCL), medial capsule, and meniscus. During this surgery, it was discovered that his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) was also ruptured, necessitating a second surgery on November 14.
This familiar path of recovery was both a source of frustration and motivation for the four-time Pro Bowler. The thought of losing what he loves once again drove him to push through the rehab process.
Chubb used the doubt of others as motivation. “I see everything. It’s not the first time someone has counted me out,” he said. “I’m just focusing on getting better.”
The initial reaction to Chubb’s injury was one of devastation in the Browns locker room. However, it soon turned into inspiration, with his teammates dedicating the rest of the season to him. Chubb was back with the team daily during the final month of the season, feeling their energy as they pushed towards the playoffs.
“The biggest thing is just being around the building,” Chubb said. “I probably don’t say much, but I come on the field and on game day, and I just work. I think the guys noticed that.”
Chubb was present with his teammates as they wrapped up the offseason program with last week’s minicamp. Although he wasn’t able to participate in football activities, he was on the field offering suggestions.
The rehab process has been repetitive for Chubb, given his previous surgery in college. He started running straight in the spring, but no one is willing to put an exact date on his return to the field.
“I know everybody wants to know, ‘When’s he gonna do this? When’s he gonna do that?'” Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said. “He is working like crazy. He’s a huge part of our program.”
Football and hard work are integral to Chubb’s identity. It’s what has driven him to overcome serious knee injuries requiring surgeries both in college and the pros. When asked if he sees himself back for Week 1 against the Dallas Cowboys, Chubb replied with a wry smile, “We’ll see, I don’t know.”
“I’m doing everything I can at this point and I’m right where I want to be,” Chubb said. “And when that time happens, when I feel great, I’ll be on the field.”
Source: Akron Beacon Journal
