Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb suffered a gruesome knee injury in the second quarter of ESPN’s Monday Night Football against the Pittsburgh Steelers. After the game, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski stated that Chubb suffered a “very significant knee injury” that will keep him sidelined for the rest of the season.
Chubb has been one of the best running backs in the league since the Browns selected him in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Excluding his rookie season (when he ran for 996 yards), he eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards in four consecutive seasons and earned Pro Bowl honors in each of those four seasons.
The injury was so horrific to the point that the television broadcasts refused to show the replay. Players around the NFL have all taken to social media to make heartfelt comments and send well-wishes to Chubb.
Chubb’s injury has reopened the debate surrounding the state of the running back position and their contract value. Teams have been reluctant to give out lucrative long-term extensions to running backs because it is such a grueling and physically taxing position that front offices believe can be easily replaced.
Running backs have been advocating publicly about their displeasure surrounding the running back market dating back to the offseason. They feel that the position should be entitled to higher guarantees in contract negotiations due to the physical toll the position can take on a player and Chubb’s injury is just the latest example.
It remains to be seen if/how this will impact the ongoing feud between NFL owners and running backs, but most importantly, hopefully, Chubb will have a speedy and successful recovery.
