Browns' Nick Chubb Says He Was 'Down Mentally for a While' After 2023 Knee Injury

Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb opened up about how difficult things were from a mental standpoint last year after he suffered a season-ending knee injury during Week 2.

"The team did a great job of being there for me," Chubb told reporters Wednesday. "I was down mentally for a while. When you get hurt it's one thing. When you get hurt again and you already know what you have to go through, the entire process, surgery, rehab, it's a non-stop battle every day.

"So my team did a great job of being there for me and I was around the building for them. They did a great job, made the playoffs, had a great run."

Chubb underwent surgery for his medial capsule, meniscus and MCL in September and another surgery in November for his ACL. All of it was for the same left knee that required reconstructive surgery when he was in college at Georgia and suffered a torn MCL, PCL and LCL in 2015.

The Browns reworked his contract this offseason to lower his cap hit but provide an opportunity to hit different incentives.

It may not be entirely fair to expect him to produce like he did before the setback, but he was one of the best running backs in the league. He is a four-time Pro Bowler with four seasons of more than 1,000 rushing yards, including in 2022 when he finished with 1,525 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground.

Fortunately for Cleveland, it is prepared in case Chubb is limited during his return thanks to the presence of Jerome Ford as a potential starter and depth pieces in Nyheim Hines and D'Onta Foreman.

Still, the Browns will be far more dangerous in the AFC North with a healthy Chubb in the backfield.