Facing fourth-and-1 at the goal line with under a minute remaining in the first half, the Browns were in need of a touchdown as they faced a seven-point deficit against the Bengals. In his first NFL action in over a year, RB Nick Chubb broke through the goal line to score and put the Browns on the board.
When asked Wednesday about how it felt to score after over a year of recovery from his season-ending knee injury last season, Chubb gave an expectedly pragmatic answer.
"It felt fine," Chubb said. "It was great to be out there with the guys and play another game."
After the Browns drove to the Cincinnati 1-yard line, Chubb's initial touchdown was called back due to an offensive offside penalty called against RG Michael Dunn. On the following play, Chubb ran five yards up the middle back to the 1-yard line but was unable to push his way into the end zone. Two plays later, Chubb ran up the middle again, but was stopped just short, bringing up fourth-and-1.
acks in the NFL than a healthy Chubb – who had the third-most broken tackles in the NFL in 2022 with 28 – and the Browns' decision to turn to the running back when they went for it on fourth-and-1 paid off. However, instead of running up the middle, Chubb caught a pitch to the left, picked up a block from TE Geoff Swaim and drove his way into the end zone.
For the fans at Huntington Bank Field, seeing Chubb find the end zone was more than fine, as cheers erupted throughout the stadium, and they celebrated the return of one of the NFL's best.
"It felt good to go out there and play with the guys again and see the love from everyone," Chubb said.
Check out photos of the team working to prepare for their game this week against the Baltimore Ravens at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 24, 2024.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 24, 2024.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 24, 2024.
Offensive guard Wyatt Teller (77) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 24, 2024.
Wide receiver Jamari Thrash (80) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 24, 2024.
Safety Rodney McLeod Jr. (12) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson (94) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 24, 2024.
Offensive guard Wyatt Teller (77) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (6) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Cornerbacks Coach Brandon Lynch during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Wide receiver Jamari Thrash (80) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 24, 2024.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Offensive tackle Michael Dunn (68) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Quarterback Bailey Zappe (2) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 24, 2024.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 24, 2024.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Cornerback Cameron Mitchell (29) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Tight end Jordan Akins (88) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Offensive tackle Roy Mbaeteka (61) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 24, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Quarterback Bailey Zappe (2) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 24, 2024.
Linebacker Khaleke Hudson (39) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Offensive Coordinator Ken Dorsey during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Tight end Geoff Swaim (84) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 24, 2024.
Offensive guard Wyatt Teller (77) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Offensive guard Joel Bitonio (75) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Offensive guard Wyatt Teller (77) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Offensive tackle Dawand Jones (79) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 24, 2024.
Running back Gary Brightwell (35) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Linebacker Khaleke Hudson (39) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (6) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Quarterback Bailey Zappe (2) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Defensive Quality Control Coach Jeff Anderson during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Defensive Coordinator Jim Schwartz during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Quarterback Bailey Zappe (2) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Defensive Line Coach Jacques Cesaire during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Running back D'Onta Foreman (27) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Offensive Assistant/Run Game Specialist Nick Charlton during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 24, 2024.
Senior Offensive Assistant Bill Musgrave during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Safety Trey Dean (28) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Center Cameron Tom (64) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 24, 2024.
Running back Pierre Strong Jr. (20) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 24, 2024.
Chubb finished his season debut with 11 carries for 22 yards, as well as a 10-yard reception against the Bengals.
Much like his efforts to get into the end zone in Week 7, Chubb’s recovery from his torn ACL and MCL was a process – one that is not entirely over despite his return to the field.
"I think I did okay. I haven't played in a year, I think I felt like I haven't played in a year," Chubb said. "A little rust here, tripping over myself where, in the past, I could have came out of some things. But I mean, overall, it's just great to get out there."
Chubb played 26 snaps in the first half and just four in the second, part of a plan to limit his snap count in his first game back and monitor how he felt throughout the game. Chubb said that he felt fine after the game but was sore on Monday.
As the Browns prepare for their Week 8 matchup against the Ravens, Chubb will see an uptick in volume in his snap count as they continue to involve him more in their offense.
"I think Nick came out of the game well," head coach Kevin Stefanski said. "So naturally, there's something that we want to grow that role."
Chubb's dedication to his recovery has served as an inspiration for his teammates throughout the offseason and regular season. He would often be one of the first in the building and among the last to leave as he worked to get back on the practice field.
Seeing him score in his first game back was a welcome sight for Browns players.
"I'm a guy that really doesn't need too much motivation, but playing with Nick Chubb, knowing what he overcame is very inspiring," QB Jameis Winston said Wednesday. "And what he means to this city and to this football team, I'm going to go out there and give my best for him to excel and be who he is."
Chubb's reintroduction to the Browns offense could impact a rushing attack that has struggled at times this season. The Browns are in the bottom five in the NFL in average rushing yards per game with 94.3 and their four yards per carry rate is last in the league.
Chubb, who ran for 1,525 yards and led the NFL in rushes for 10 or more yards in 2022 – his last fully healthy season – offers an explosiveness that few running backs in the league can provide.
"We know the great player he is," WR Cedric Tillman said on Monday. "So obviously, when he's out there, the defense has to pay attention to him an obviously that can open things up for the offense."
