The Cleveland Browns’ star running back Nick Chubb was carted off the field with what appeared to be a severe knee injury against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday night.
Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick came in low for a tackle at the end of a five-yard run early in the second quarter and delivered a hit to Chubb’s legs. Chubb remained on the ground for several minutes while teammates gathered in prayer nearby. He eventually left on a cart. ESPN chose not to show replays of the incident.
“I’m told the replay of Nick Chubb getting injured is not to be seen,” play-by-play announcer Joe Buck said.
Chubb suffered a serious injury to the same knee in 2015 while in college at Georgia – a dislocation with three torn ligaments. That injury forced Chubb to miss the second half of his sophomore year, but he returned to top 1,000 yards rushing in 2016 and 2017. He was a second-round pick by the Browns in 2018. Over the last six years, he has been one of the few constants for the Browns, averaging over 1,250 yards rushing a season for a team that has slowly emerged as a contender in the AFC North.
NBA star and Ohio native LeBron James and Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson were among those who expressed support for Chubb on social media.
DAMN MAN!!!! 🤦🏾♂️. 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾 Nick Chubb. Praying for the absolute best
— LeBron James (@KingJames) September 19, 2023
James posted he was “praying for the absolute best” with Jackson offering a similar sentiment.
In Monday’s other game, Tony Jones Jr ran for two touchdowns, rookie Blake Grupe kicked two field goals and the New Orleans Saints defeated the Carolina Panthers 20-17 to improve to 2-0 for the first time since 2013.
Jones, who was elevated from the practice squad, replaced the injured Jamaal Williams late in the first half and ran for 34 yards on 12 carries. The Saints defense did the rest, holding the Panthers rookie quarterback Bryce Young, the No 1 overall pick in this year’s draft, to 153 yards passing in his Monday Night Football debut. The New Orleans defense limited winless Carolina to just 239 yards and sacked Young four times.
The Saints nearly made it two full games without allowing a touchdown before giving up a three-yard scoring toss from Young to Adam Thielen with 1:16 left in the game.
