The Cleveland Browns trail the Denver Broncos 21-17 at halftime, and running back Nick Chubb has been a non-factor thus far. Let’s examine Chubb’s struggles and why the Browns are rolling with Jerome Ford instead of the veteran.
Kevin Stefanksi Explains Nick Chubb’s Limited Usage
In the first half, Chubb rushed the ball six times for 11 yards and zero scores. He’s averaging just 1.8 yards per attempt.
Meanwhile, Ford has turned six carries into 39 yards, averaging 6.5 yards per attempt.
After the end of the first half, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski explained Chubb’s limited usage. Stefanski confirmed that Chubb is fine health-wise — the Browns are just opting to roll with Ford on certain drives.
On the final drive of the half, the Browns were in a two-minute drill, so it isn’t a huge surprise that Ford was in over Chubb given his receiving ability.
Since returning from his devastating knee injury that ended his 2023 season, Chubb has been largely ineffective.
While his comeback is a terrific story, he’s been inefficient and hasn’t looked like the Chubb of old. This season, Chubb has 73 carries for 222 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 3.0 yards per attempt.
Why is Jerome Ford playing over Nick Chubb vs. the Broncos? We don't know, but this might have something to do with it ⤵
This season, just 4.1% of his carries have gained 10+ yards, far below his career norm entering this season (15.8%). pic.twitter.com/6ztGYoDOq6
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) December 3, 2024
This season, just 4.1% of Chubb’s carries have gained 10+ yards, far below his career norm entering this season (15.8%). His best performance was in Week 12 against the Pittsburgh Steelers when he rushed 20 times for 59 yards and two touchdowns.
Meanwhile, Ford has 61 carries for 298 yards and one touchdown while also catching 26 passes for 126 yards. He’s averaging 4.9 yards per attempt.
During Week 2 of the 2023 season, Chubb suffered season-ending tears of his ACL and meniscus.
Chubb has now had two ACL surgeries on the same knee, plus he tore his meniscus and medial capsule. In other words, as Browns beat writer Mary Kay Cabot put it earlier this season, he “has torn every ligament in the knee at least once, and several twice.”
Browns running backs coach Duce Staley said he “can’t remember another NFL running back who’s come back from two major reconstructions of the same knee.”
Chubb is a four-time Pro Bowler who was a second-team All-Pro selection in 2022.