Browns coach shares big news about Nick Chubb

Jan 3, 2021; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb (24) during the first quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski shared some big news about Nick Chubb on Friday.

Stefanski told the media that he expects Chubb to play in the team’s Week 7 game at home against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. Chubb is expected to play despite being listed as questionable on the injury report due to a knee injury.

#Browns Kevin Stefanski said he expects Nick Chubb (knee) to play Sunday against the #Bengals even though he's questionable.

— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) October 18, 2024

If Chubb is expected to play, perhaps his status should be upgraded to probable. But the expectation all week has been that he would make his season debut this weekend.

Chubb began the season on the Physically Unable to Perform list and missed the first four games of the season. The Browns opened the 21-day practice window for Chubb after Week 4, so the timeline always suggested he would need to be activated for Week 7.

Chubb is returning from two surgeries. He underwent one in September 2023 to repair a torn MCL, and then another in November to fix his ACL. The Browns running back suffered a horrible injury during a Monday night game against Pittsburgh last year, about 13 months ago.

The 28-year-old Chubb has not played since Week 2 of last season. Cleveland has begun this season 1-5.