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Browns RB Nick Chubb's season comes to end after sustaining broken foot

'I think if Nick wants to be a Brown, he'll be a Brown next year.'
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CLEVELAND — Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb left Sunday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs with an injury, ruled out for the remainder of the game. It was an injury that will end his season early for the second year in a row.

Chubb left the game in the third quarter, listed as questionable with a foot injury. Before that, Chubb had rushed for 41 yards on nine carries with a fumble.

It was a rough go for Chubb on Sunday, who had a pass from Jameis Winston (not a great pass for what it's worth) bounce off his hands and into the possession of the Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton. Later in the game, Chubb was rushing when linebacker Leo Chenal punched the ball out of his hands, which was recovered by linebacker Drue Tranquill.

Before the fourth quarter began, the Browns ruled Chubb out for the remainder of the game.

Following the 21-7 loss to the Chiefs, Chubb walked out of the locker room in a medical boot and with crutches. It was clear the injury was serious.

Head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed that to be true after the game.

"Nick Chubb broke his foot, unfortunately. So obviously very disappointed for Nick," Stefanski said. "I’ve told you guys this before, but I have gotten to have a first-row seat to what he’s been able to do. 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. It 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 just another obstacle that he will overcome.”

Chubb has, in fact, overcome his share of obstacles.

After sustaining a season-ending knee injury last year in the Week 2 matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Chubb underwent two surgeries to repair his MCL and ACL. He fought through rehab and by Week 17, was able to walk up the platform stairs to be the Dawg Pound Captain, smashing a guitar pregame to hype up the crowd.

By this summer, Chubb was running sprints at training camp. Then, he made his return in Week 7 of this year.

It was over a year of rehab and work to get back. He worked tirelessly to return. His teammates took notice of just how hard Chubb worked each day.

"I come to work every day to see how hard he works, and he works his *** off. Excuse my language, but he [does]," said fellow running back Pierre Strong Jr. "That's probably one of the hardest-working dudes I've ever seen."

To see Chubb sustain another injury was devastating to the guys he calls brothers in the locker room.

"For him to continuously battle through adversity, man, it's just—when's he going to catch a break, you know what I mean?" Strong said.

While it was tough for the Browns to see Chubb go down with an injury, they're sure he's going to tackle this obstacle with the unmatched fervor that has come to define the running back.

"It's tough. I'm not a doctor but I don't think this is as serious as obviously some of the other stuff so just give it a little bit of time to heal and he'll have all offseason to get back," said guard Joel Bitonio. "A lot of those knee injuries are a year-and-a-half, two years anyway so hopefully the can get back to feeling great and be the Nick Chubb we love."

Chubb is currently on a one-year, reworked contract. He's set to be a free agent next season. But his teammates are also confident that Chubb, despite that uncertainty on paper, will be a Cleveland Brown moving forward, so long as that's what interests him.

"Yeah, I think if Nick wants to be a Brown, he'll be a Brown next year. That's all I got for that," Bitonio said. "I think he's earned that and they'll figure something out."

The team is planning to be there for Chubb through these last three games of the season and into the off-season. They're going to be checking in on him, making sure he's in a good head space and supporting him as he overcomes this latest obstacle.

“Like the first round, check in on him every day, make sure he’s good. He’s going to come to meetings. I know him, he’s not going to sit at home. He’s going to come in every day, get treatment and we’re going to love him up every single day. Whatever he needs, we’re here for him," Strong said.

Because for this team, Nick Chubb is the Cleveland Browns.

"When you think about Cleveland Browns, you think about Jim Brown and Nick Chubb. He's in that conversation where when you think of this team, this organization, he comes to mind," Strong said. "He's the organization."

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