Nick Chubb’s Season Ends with Broken Foot in Browns’ Loss to Chiefs
It’s a tough day to be a Cleveland Browns fan. The team’s star running back, Nick Chubb, has suffered yet another devastating injury, this time a broken foot during Sunday’s 21-7 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed the news after the game, and it’s official: Chubb’s season is over with just three games left to play.
The injury occurred in the third quarter, with 10:59 remaining, just one play after Chubb broke off an 8-yard run. Stefanski explained that he believed Chubb’s foot was stepped on during the play. The Browns’ offense, already struggling this season, now faces an even steeper uphill battle without their four-time Pro Bowl running back.
A Season of Setbacks for Chubb
For Chubb, this marks yet another chapter in what has been a brutal stretch of injuries. He missed the first six games of the season while recovering from a severe left knee injury sustained in Week 2 of the 2023 season. Despite his return, Chubb never quite looked like his old self. In eight games, he rushed for 332 yards and scored four touchdowns (three rushing). However, his production was far below his usual standards, with career-low averages in yards per carry (3.3), yards before contact per rush (1.25), and yards after contact per rush (1.72).
Chubb’s future with the Browns is now a major question mark. The 28-year-old is set to become an unrestricted free agent after this season. Earlier this week, Chubb expressed his desire to finish his career in Cleveland, the team that drafted him 35th overall in 2018. But with back-to-back injury-plagued seasons, the Browns’ front office will have a tough decision to make.
Stefanski spoke highly of Chubb after the game, saying, “I can’t tell you how much I respect him as a person, what he means to this football team. So, really, really disappointed about this injury. Does not change the fact that he continues to inspire this football team with how he approaches every single day. And I know this is another obstacle that he will overcome.”
Quarterback Controversy Brewing in Cleveland
As if losing Chubb wasn’t bad enough, the Browns are also dealing with a quarterback dilemma. Jameis Winston, who has been filling in for the injured Deshaun Watson since Week 8, was benched in the fourth quarter after throwing his third interception of the game. That brings Winston’s total to an NFL-leading 12 interceptions since taking over as the starter. It was also his third game this season with three interceptions.
Second-year quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson replaced Winston with 7:57 left in the game. Thompson-Robinson, a 2023 fifth-round pick, didn’t fare much better, completing just 4 of 9 passes for 18 yards and throwing an interception on Cleveland’s final drive. He also added 16 rushing yards on three carries.
Stefanski was noncommittal about who would start at quarterback moving forward, saying, “With any decision, I’ll work through those type of things. This is not about one person. I want to make that very clear. Jameis does a great job preparing for these games. He’s fighting his tail off and I appreciate that from him, but we’ll make that decision later.”
Winston, for his part, took responsibility for his struggles, saying, “It’s required for the quarterback to protect the football to give your team a chance to win, and the leadership decided that my time was up. I like to toss the ball around. I have to be more precise with my passes, and I have to just give us a better chance.”
What’s Next for the Browns?
The Browns are now 2-5 in games started by Winston, who has completed 61.1% of his passes for 2,121 yards and 13 touchdowns. With three games left in the season and their playoff hopes all but dashed, Cleveland has some tough decisions to make—not just at quarterback, but across the board.
Here’s a quick recap of the Browns’ current challenges:
- Nick Chubb’s season-ending broken foot adds to his injury woes.
- Jameis Winston’s turnover issues continue to plague the offense.
- Dorian Thompson-Robinson’s limited experience raises questions about his readiness to start.
- The Browns’ record now stands at 2-5 in games started by Winston.
For Browns fans, it’s been a season of heartbreak and frustration. Losing a player like Nick Chubb is a gut punch, not just for the team but for the entire fanbase. As the season winds down, all eyes will be on Cleveland to see how they navigate these challenges and what their plans are for the future.
Originally Written by: Jake Trotter
