Former Browns Running Back Nick Chubb Taking on Backup Duties With Texans
Former Browns Running Back Nick Chubb Taking on Backup Duties With Texans originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Cleveland Browns ended the Nick Chubb era this offseason in a pivot that let fans know what they thought of the running back's prospects. Chubb will turn 30 in December, and he'll do so with an injury history that took away his 2023 season and made his 2024 campaign an underwhelming blip on the radar.
Advertisement
It wasn't a surprise that the Browns elected to let Chubb walk, nor was it a shock to see few teams line up to sign him.
Ultimately, Chubb found a new home with the Houston Texans, who signed him to a one-year, $2.5 million deal on Monday.
In Houston, he'll find newfound hopes of playoff football, his first franchise quarterback since the flashes of Baker Mayfield, and a second chance to prove he can still hang, regardless of his medical baggage.
In gauging what to expect from the former Browns running back, it's best to start with his health. Chubb tore his knee up early in the 2023 season, demanding surgeries to repair his ACL, meniscus, and MCL. Upon his return in the middle of 2024, Chubb was middling, averaging 3.3 yards per attempt. His longest run went for 19 yards.
Advertisement
By December, he was hurt again, breaking his foot in Week 15.
The veteran is currently slotted behind Joe Mixon on the Texans' depth chart. He'll have to look the part in the summer to stave off Dameon Pierce and fourth-round rookie Woody Marks.
'That's all behind me,' Chubb told reporters. 'Injuries happen, With what I did, it takes about two years to really get back. So, I'm over the hump. I'm back home, I was back home all offseason training where I trained every year since I was in high school. I was able to get a full year in of doing the things I do best. Now, I'm feeling as good as I have been in a long time.'
If Chubb is healthy, there's likely a role for him in the backfield, particularly in short-yardage situations. Marks' draft capital and Pierce's 2024 struggles could extend that leash, and with enough potency, Chubb could eat into a real portion of Houston's carries as the second back on the roster.
Advertisement
That job isn't particularly secure. Between his own injuries, others' ascensions, and the chance that he performs as he did in 2024, Chubb may fall out of the rotation entirely, too.
Simply put, Texans fans need to see what Chubb looks like this summer. He has elite vision, footwork, and contact balance helping to sustain his skill set, but his age and medicals are pressing concerns that may cost him the benefit of the doubt.
Cleveland will not play Houston in the 2025 regular season, but Browns fans will be pulling for him wherever he plays.
Related: Chubb Moves to Texans With Cheap 'Prove-It' Contract
Related: Steelers Rival Waiting To Put Rodgers in 'Graveyard'
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 11, 2025, where it first appeared.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Associated Press
14 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Game 5: Pacers, Thunder set to play swing game, with winner grabbing 3-2 lead in the NBA Finals
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The back-and-forth of these NBA Finals has been constant. Game 1 went to Indiana, so Oklahoma City had to bounce back in Game 2. Indiana reclaimed the series lead in Game 3, only to see Oklahoma City answer yet again in Game 4, knotting the series 2-2. And now, Game 5. The swing game, as some call it. The winner on Monday night — Pacers vs. Thunder in Oklahoma City — will take a 3-2 lead in the NBA Finals, moving one win away from hoisting the Larry O'Brien Trophy. Odds are, the Game 5 winner will go on to win the series. It's happened that way 23 times in the previous 31 instances of the NBA Finals being tied at two games apiece. 'It's the ultimate effort, endeavor, whatever you want to call it,' Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said after his team lost Game 4. 'I mean, it's long. It's arduous. But it's the greatest opportunity going. It's the greatest opportunity going. It's really hard, and it's supposed to be hard. It's supposed to be hard. This is where we're going to have to dig in and circle the wagons and come back stronger on Monday.' Oklahoma City is a league-best 44-8 at home this season, including the playoffs. Indiana is seeking its eighth road win of these playoffs, which would tie the Pacers for the second-most in a single postseason. Houston has the record for road wins in one playoff year with nine in its run to the 1995 title. Game 6 will be in Indianapolis on Thursday night. If a Game 7 is necessary, it will be back in Oklahoma City on Sunday night. ___ AP NBA:
CNN
15 minutes ago
- CNN
2025 US Open winner J.J. Spaun speaks to CNN Sports after dramatic win
Following his dramatic comeback win at the 2025 US Open at Oakmont, newly crowned major champion J.J. Spaun speaks to CNN Sports' Patrick Snell about his victory.
CNN
17 minutes ago
- CNN
Shohei Ohtani to make long-awaited Dodgers pitching debut Monday against Padres
The Los Angeles Dodgers sparked a frenzy Sunday evening when they announced two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani will make his long-awaited first start from the mound in Dodger blue Monday night. The three-time MVP has not pitched in a game since August 23, 2023, when he played for the Los Angeles Angels. That's 663 days between pitching appearances – and 663 days since fans caught a glimpse of his wicked four-seam fastball and splitter. Ohtani threw in his first simulated plate appearances at the end of May. At the time, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he didn't see the 30-year-old pitching in a game until after July's All-Star Break. Ohtani has since thrown two more live sessions. Even Sunday afternoon, Roberts said he wasn't sure exactly when Ohtani's highly anticipated pitching return would come. 'Shohei's getting antsy, which is a good thing for us. And so, I don't know which day he's going to open for us, but there's a high probability he's going to open for us in the coming days,' Roberts said after the 5-4 win over the Giants. How quickly things seemed to escalate as the Dodgers tweeted Sunday evening: 'Shohei Ohtani will be the starting pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers tomorrow night against the San Diego Padres.' As Roberts previously discussed, the four-time All-Star is not built up as a starter yet, so Monday's game against the Padres, Ohtani will be used as an opener. 'He's ready to pitch in a Major League game,' Roberts said. 'I think it's more driven by the fact that it doesn't necessarily need to be a typical starting pitcher ramp-up.' Because of Ohtani's two-way player status, he does not count against the team's 13 pitcher spots on the 26-man roster. In that way, Roberts will be able to give him real-game experience without the stress of taking up a relief pitcher's place. 'To potentially keep running this process out, to have him taxed for a game, where he feels that he's equipped to go an inning or two and then continue to build up from there right now, so in that sense, not surprising,' Roberts said. 'A week ago, we were talking about another live and potentially getting to four innings and things like that. But the conversations, the confidence that he has, it's time to go.' Following Ohtani's last game from the rubber in August 2023 as an Angel, he underwent a procedure to repair the right ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow in September 2023. It was his second surgery on his right elbow. He then underwent surgery on his left shoulder this past offseason, which made the Dodgers even more cautious with their record-breaking signing. Every season seems to be a record season for the Japanese star, but the 2024 season really did take the cake. Before the season, he signed the then-reportedly largest contract in North American sports history when he penned a 10-year deal with the Dodgers. He then went on to become the first player to hit 50+ home runs and steal 50+ bases, set career-highs in batting average and home runs, was once again selected as an All-Star, won his first World Series ring and was unanimously voted the National League MVP (the third time he's won unanimously). Ohtani remains the only player to win unanimously more than once. The right-handed pitcher had a career 3.01 ERA before his pitching layoff. 'I do feel like just being the two-way player that I used to be was the norm. So, last year really was the abnormal year. For me it's about really getting back to what I used to do,' Ohtani said via his interpreter Will Ireton on Saturday.
