Touches for Nick Chubb Declining

One of the top running backs in the league, Nick Chubb, has seen his touches decline this season. This comes after a spectacular 2022, which saw Chubb have 1,525 rushing yards, good for second in the NFL. Unfortunately, in 2023 Chubb tore his MCL and ACL just two games into the season. Last Thursday in a snow game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Chubb hit 20 carries for the first time in five games since coming back from injury. 

Chubb has yet to record a performance of over 100 yards, let alone crack 60 yards. There has yet to be plays where Chubb has shown his old burst. One reason for this is that Chubb is a running back that gets better as the game goes on. The more touches he gets, the more opportunities he has to wear down a run defense. 

Chubb’s first game back was the same game Deshaun Watson had another season-ending injury. With a Watson and Chubb backfield, it would be logical for the Browns to have a balanced offense. Now, with Watson out of the equation, Chubb still has yet to have a game where he gets the bulk of the workload. Here’s one potential thing to consider: with the combination of Chubb coming off injury plus Watson’s injury, the Browns are saving Chubb’s touches for next year, hoping to have at least one more year of a Super Bowl window with the core of Watson, Chubb, Myles Garrett, and Denzel Ward. Stars can win a team games, that’s who Chubb is, and he has yet to see opportunities to lead the team to victories this season.