Texans' Nick Chubb Says He Belongs in Derrick Henry 'Category' Entering Age-30 Season

After two injury-limited seasons, Houston Texans running back Nick Chubb wants to return to his previous status as one of the top running backs in the NFL.

Chubb, 29, told ESPN's DJ Bien-Aime that he believes he can join Baltimore Ravens star Derrick Henry in remaining a top running back despite the general expectation of age-related decline past age 30.

"[Henry] is different," Chubb told Bien-Aime. "You are not gonna put him in that category, he showed it's not true. And I think that applies for me. I'm in the category with them. I'm different, and I feel good as I have been."

Last season, Henry rushed for 1,921 yards in 17 games with the Baltimore Ravens to break the league record for the most rushing yards ever recorded by a running back at age 30 or older.

It has been three years since Chubb recorded a similarly dominant campaign. He was limited to a total of just 10 games and 502 rushing yards over his last two seasons with the Cleveland Browns amid multiple reconstructive knee surgeries in 2023 and a broken foot in 2024.

The Texans signed Chubb to a one-year, $2.5 million deal reportedly worth up to $5 million with the hope he could record another productive season as part of a duo with Joe Mixon.

But Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans seemingly expressed doubt about Chubb being able to return to his former dominance heading into his age-30 campaign.

“When it comes to Chubb, and how am I comparing him? You know, guys age. He’s been through a lot. It’s not always gonna be the same as his early years in the NFL," Ryans said last week, per NBC Sports' Michael David Smith.

Ryans continued, "But what I hang my hat on with him is that this guy loves football. He’s physical, he plays the right way, he prepares himself the right way, really sharp guy when it comes to the protection scheme... He’s always been a tremendous football player, especially when he’s healthy, so he’s still working his way back, looks like he’s in really good shape, and he’ll continue to get better.”

Mixon is at risk of missing Week 1 with a foot injury, while Chubb missed consecutive practices after taking a hit to the head on Tuesday, per KPRC 2's Aaron Wilson.

If Chubb ultimately returns to the field before Mixon, however, he could potentially get an even larger chance to prove himself as a top run option for C.J. Stroud when the Texans open the regular season on Sept. 7 against the Los Angeles Rams.