Daniel Oyefusi, ESPN
CLEVELAND — Brown running back Nick Chubb he broke his leg on Sunday in the third quarter of Cleveland’s 21-7 loss to Liverpool Kansas City Chiefs– said coach Kevin Stefanski.
The injury ends Chubb’s season with three games left.
Stefanski said he believed Chubb’s toes were stepped on. Chubb’s last snap came with 10:59 left in the third quarter, one play after an 8-yard run.
Chubb missed the first six games of the season while rehabbing a severe left knee injury he suffered in Week 2 of the 2023 season. In eight games, Chubb rushed for 332 yards and four touchdowns (three rushing). Returning from injury, he averaged career-low marks in yards per carry (3.3), yards before contact per rush (1.25), and yards after contact per rush (1.72).
A four-time Pro Bowler, Chubb is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent after the season. He said earlier this week that he would like to finish his career with the Browns, who selected him with the 35th pick in the 2018 draft.
“I can’t express how much I respect him as a person and how important he is to this football team,” Stefanski said. “So I’m really really disappointed with this injury. It doesn’t change the fact that he continues to inspire this football team with his approach every day. I know this is another obstacle he will overcome.”
Stefanski also wasn’t involved with the Browns’ starting quarterback, who played forward after coming off the bench Jameis Winstonwho was involved in three of Cleveland’s six turnovers on Sunday. Second year player Dorian Thompson-Robinson replaced Winston with 7:57 left in the game after Winston’s third interception. It was Winston’s 12th NFL interception since taking over as the injured starter Deshaun Watson in Week 8 and Winston’s third game with three interceptions this season.
“When making any decision, I will analyze these types of issues,” said Stefanski. “It’s not about one person. I want to emphasize this very clearly. Jameis does a great job preparing for these games. He’s fighting with himself and I appreciate that from him, but we’ll make a decision later.”
Thompson-Robinson, a 2023 fifth-round draft pick who started three games as a rookie, completed 4 of 9 passes for 18 yards and was intercepted on Cleveland’s final drive. He also ran three times for 16 yards.
The Browns are 2-5 in games started by Winston, who has completed 61.1% of his passes for 2,121 yards and 13 touchdowns.
“The quarterback is required to protect the football to give the team a chance to win, and management has decided my time is up,” Winston said.
“I like throwing the ball,” Winston said later. I have to be more precise with my passes and just give us a better chance.
