Nick Chubb’s injury has Browns in bad spot

It appears that the 2023 season is over for the Cleveland Browns after just two games. Superstar running back Nick Chubb exited Monday night’s game in Pittsburgh with a catastrophic knee injury, and with it went the Browns’ chances of having any success.

This may seem a bit dramatic, but Chubb is clearly the best offensive player on the Browns. It is hard for any team to lose a player of Chubb’s talent and still find a way to be a winning team.

There are concerns about the magnitude of Chubb’s injury. This is the second time that Chubb has dealt with a major injury to his left knee. Chubb tore his LCL, MCL, and PCL while attending Georgia, and there was always a level of concern that a new injury could occur. The injury that forced Chubb to leave the game Monday was just as, if not more severe. It is going to take a long time for Chubb to rehab the injury and there is a real possibility that he is no longer an effective back.

Pressure is now on Browns’ passing game

Cleveland’s outlook for this season would not be so grim if they had anything resembling a productive passing game. Unfortunately, it appears that Deshaun Watson will never be the quarterback he used to be. Watson’s Browns tenure continues to be a massive disappointment without much to write home about. Watson’s job is now more difficult without Chubb lining up in the backfield alongside him. Opposing defenses will not be afraid of Jerome Ford, Pierre Strong, or whoever else Cleveland tries to throw out there. They are going to be willing to dare Watson to beat them with his arm. The harsh reality is that an air-based attack is not a realistic way for the Browns to win games.

There is one more thing to take note of. If the Browns’ coaching staff and front office were not on the hot seat already they are now. They were able to convince ownership out of extending Baker Mayfield in favor of acquiring Watson. With Watson looking worse than the guy he replaced, it is easy to wonder if Jimmy Haslam will revert to his old ways. Those ways are firing everyone and starting over… again. If this team is unable to pick themselves up in the wake of Chubb’s injury and play meaningful football, this is very much in the realm of possibilities.