Early in the morning on the back practice fields at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus, head coach Kevin Stefanski would look out his office window and see a player out there running.
That player was RB Nick Chubb.
Through those workouts, Chubb was progressing through the stages of recovery and rehab from his season-ending knee injury. Stefanski witnessed Chubb's early morning workouts before the workday started and has watched how the time on the field paid off for him.
"I've gotten to witness this journey, if you will, from back to last year and how hard he's worked," Stefanski said. "Nick's a pretty special football player. He's a pretty special person. I think he embodies a lot of what we want to be as Cleveland Browns."
Chubb continues his progression back from the season-ending knee injury he endured in Week 2 of the 2023 season. He has gone through two weeks of practice as a limited participant and participated in the first practice of the week on Wednesday. The Browns officially opened his 21-day practice window on Oct. 2, and Chubb has been inactive for Week 5 and 6 of this season.
Stefanski said as a staff they will continue assessing Chubb's progress throughout the week, and work through any type of pitch count for when Chubb returns to the field.
"I don't have a specific number right this minute but want to see Nick practice this week and then huddle up with Nick and with the coaches," Stefanski said.
As his eventual return to the field approaches, he continues to focus on each individual day. He was concentrated on Wednesday's practice and the task ahead, seeing how he responded in that day's workout. Chubb said that his knee feels "good" and is ready to take the field and help his team.
"I'm just grateful to be back on my feet and grateful to be here with this team, and I love what we have," Chubb said.
As Chubb prepares for his return to game action since last season, he holds the mindset of doing whatever is necessary to help the Browns win. He's not holding expectations of his on-field performance until he sees what he can do. He's prepared to provide even a spark of energy.
Chubb adds depth to the backfield alongside RB D'Onta Foreman and RB Pierre Strong Jr., giving QB Deshaun Watson another ball carrier. As the Browns work through their offensive struggles and search to find consistency in the run game, Chubb could provide another option in the run game.
"Super nice to be able to have his presence, his energy, his work ethic, and just to have Chubb in the backfield," Watson said. "He definitely means a lot, not just for this offense, but for this community and this organization. So definitely that excitement and hopefully that spark that we need to take it to another level."
The rest of his teammates are also excited about his eventual return. As Chubb stood at the podium and his teammates walked by on Wednesday afternoon, they began cheering and yelling his name. Chubb cracked a small smile in recognition of his teammates' reactions.
"They just always have my back," Chubb said of his teammates. "Through thick and thin, good times or bad, they just always told me to keep working and I'll be back one day. And it's finally here."
Check out photos of the team working to prepare for their game this week against the Cincinnati Bengals at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 17, 2024.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 16, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 17, 2024.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 17, 2024.
Defensive end Za'Darius Smith (99) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 16, 2024.
Wide receiver Jamari Thrash (80) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 17, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 16, 2024.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 17, 2024.
Linebacker Mohamoud Diabate (43) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 16, 2024.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 17, 2024.
Linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (6) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 16, 2024.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 16, 2024.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 17, 2024.
Cornerback Greg Newsome II (0) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 16, 2024.
Cornerback Tony Brown II (38) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 16, 2024.
Running back Nyheim Hines (22) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 17, 2024.
Defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. (51) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 16, 2024.
Running back Nyheim Hines (22) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 16, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 16, 2024.
Running back D'Onta Foreman (27) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 17, 2024.
Running back D'Onta Foreman (27) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 16, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 17, 2024.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 16, 2024.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 16, 2024.
Linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 16, 2024.
Offensive Coordinator Ken Dorsey during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 16, 2024.
Defensive tackle Maurice Hurst II (90) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 16, 2024.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 16, 2024.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 17, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 17, 2024.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 17, 2024.
Defensive end Elerson Smith (52) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 17, 2024.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 16, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 17, 2024.
Wide receiver James Proche II (11) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 16, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 17, 2024.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 17, 2024.
Wide receiver Michael Woods II (81) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 17, 2024.
Safeties Coach Ephraim Banda and Cornerback Tony Brown II (38) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 16, 2024.
Cornerback Kahlef Hailassie (25) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 17, 2024.
Offensive tackle Jack Conklin (78) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 16, 2024.
Linebacker Nathaniel Watson (40) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 16, 2024.
Cornerback Mike Ford Jr. (31) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 16, 2024.
Cornerback Greg Newsome II (0) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 16, 2024.
Safety Chris Edmonds (41) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 17, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 17, 2024.
Assistant Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator Bubba Ventrone during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 16, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 16, 2024.
Director of Performance Shaun Huls during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 17, 2024.
Cornerback Tony Brown II (38) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 17, 2024.
Defensive end Za'Darius Smith (99) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 17, 2024.
Equipment Intern Keaton Huff during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 17, 2024.
Cornerback Kahlef Hailassie (25) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 16, 2024.
As Chubb reflected on the ups and downs of the past year through the rehab and recovery process from two surgeries to repair his knee, he penned an essay in the Player's Tribune to share his story and his experience.
He has a friend that works for the Players' Tribune, who originally reached out about the potential of sharing his story. After conversations about his recovery, Chubb decided to share his personal experience to help connect with the city of Cleveland. They wrote the essay and released the piece Wednesday morning.
"It means a lot, because people only see me on Sundays, and they don't know what it's been like this past year, been a lot of downs. Lot of hard work. Gives them a little insight into what's actually been going on," Chubb said. "Just trying to give back a little bit. I am a bit of a closed-off guy, so I thought it would be good and I thought people would appreciate me opening up a little bit, especially at a time like this."
The piece resonated with Browns fans and increased excitement about his eventual return. Yet, Chubb has provided that spark of energy even dating back to last season.
When the Browns faced the Jets on Thursday Night Football in late December, Chubb served as the Dawg Pound Captain. As he stepped out of the tunnel, he pulled out a Batman mask and slipped it on. He then pulled the guitar out of the case as the fans in the stadium roared and smashed the guitar. Hearing the cheers and applause of the fans encapsulated to Chubb what the fanbase feels about him.
That sentiment of the fans still rings true as they await to see No. 24 run through the tunnel on gameday.
"I think it's the people here in Cleveland that make it what it is," Chubb said. "People here, they want to win, and they love sports here. It's a sports town. The people here, the love they have for us and everyone in the city is what makes it special."
