HOUSTON – Regaining explosiveness doesn’t happen overnight for a running back no matter how athletic they are and no matter how hard they work.
In the case of Nick Chubb, he’s chasing the greatness he achieved during his prime years with the Cleveland Browns when he was one of the top runners in the game.
As a four-time Pro Bowl selection, Chubb was absolutely prolific. He ranks third all-time in Browns franchise history behind Hall of Fame backs Jim Brown and Leroy Kelly.
His career was nearly derailed altogether by a gruesome knee injury two seasons ago. His comeback last year was cut short by a broken foot.
Now that Chubb is healthy again and playing for the Texans under a one-year, $5 million maximum value deal, he’s looking for that speed and twitchiness that defined his game as a breakaway threat for the Browns. It’s early in training camp and Chubb has displayed he isn’t hurt anymore. Getting back to making special runs has been elusive, in part due to the Texans’ aggressive, fast defense cutting off running lanes before Chubb can break free.
“It’s going good,” Chubb said. “It’s hard to get a burst when the defense is playing so good over there. But, other than that, every chance I get to get a quick 10-yard burst after the play is done, I can. Anything I can do to get in better shape.”
Conditioning and attitude are major pluses for Chubb, whose deal has a base value of $2.5 million.
The importance of his presence is obvious, especially with Joe Mixon sidelined with foot and ankle injuries and on the non-football injury list. The Texans are hopeful that Mixon can make it back for a road-season-opener against the Los Angeles Rams.
If Mixon is unavailable for the first game, Chubb is expected to be leaned on as the primary alternative.
After dealing with a multitude of injuries over the past two seasons and the Browns moving on from him, Chubb is embracing the fresh start.
“I feel good,” Chubb said. “It’s been great to get a chance to come out here and play some more football, it’s been a while for me. I love it out here. It’s been great getting back.”
After a rough past two seasons with injuries, Chubb has regained his health and is relaunching his career with the defending AFC South champions. Chubb endured a torn medial collateral ligament and damaged anterior cruciate ligament two seasons ago.
It’s a process for Chubb to get back to his old form.
That’s a reality that coach DeMeco Ryans acknowledges. There’s a patience factor, especially with a 29-year-old who has played in the NFL for seven seasons and has carried the football 1,340 times for 6,843 career yards and 51 touchdowns.
That kind of workload and the injuries Chubb has endured takes a significant toll.
“When it comes to Chubb, and how am I comparing him, he’s been through a lot,” Ryans said. “It’s not always going to be the same as his early years in the NFL. 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. He’s a really sharp guy when it comes to the protection scheme. He’s on it. He’s helping out the guys.”
There was a distinctive difference between Chubb from last week when he appeared a bit plodding on his runs to Monday when he could be more physical in full pads.
“Seeing him today, he definitely showed up in the pads,” Ryans said. “He’s a guy who can play physical behind his pads. He can eat yardage. So, I’m excited to see him just play football. That’s what he’s always been. He’s always been a tremendous football player, especially when he’s healthy.
“So, he’s still working his way back. It looks like he’s in really good shape. He’ll continue to get better now going through camp. Everybody continues to get better the more you go through it, and I see the same with Chubb.”
The true litmus test for Chubb will come in a game situation.
For now, Chubb is looking recovered, rejuvenated and extremely fit. The former University of Georgia star football player and high school track standout even regained his old stopwatch speed and weightlifting standards that includes squatting over 500 pounds.
“Nick Chubb, that’s a legend,” All-Pro corner Derek Stingley Jr. said. “I think it’s pretty cool.”
The presence of Chubb followed a quick courtship. Chubb’s agent, Todd France of Athletes First, got the call in the spring. One day later, Chubb was on a commercial flight from Atlanta to Houston. The following morning, he was on a visit at NRG Stadium and took a physical. His incentive-laden contract was finalized Monday afternoon.
Now, Chubb is operating with the first-team offense and getting up to speed in an offense new offensive coordinator Nick Caley plans to utilize the running game as much as possible.
“It helps a lot,” Chubb said. “I need every rep I can get. It’s been a while. I got hurt last December, so I haven’t been in pads since. It’s great to get out here, get a chance, get pads on, get hit and move around a little bit.”
The interactions with Caley. The building camaraderie with quarterback C.J. Stroud and the other offensive players.
It’s all coming together for Chubb. So far, so good.
“What I love most about it is the guys that are around me in the huddle,” Chubb said. “The big guys up front, the receivers, tight ends, and C.J., it’s a bunch of guys who play with intent, who love to practice and love to work hard and get better every day.
“Nick, he’s very smart and super intelligent. He loves ball. He’s always thinking of the next play, and it’s been great to work with him.”
Chubb is determined to put those health issues behind him and be a vital part of a potentially formidable tandem with Mixon.
The really bad injury is in the past. The path forward, Chubb believes, is a clear sprint.
“That was two years ago, so I’m getting over the hump,” Chubb said. “I just come out here and try to be the best I can.”
Drafted in the second round in 2018 after a stellar career at Georgia, Chubb rushed for 332 yards on 102 carries last season and scored three touchdowns as he averaged 3.1 yards per carry while getting back to full health.
Chubb, who signed a three-year, $36 million extension in 2021, had his contract restructured last year as he lowered his salary-cap figure from $15.85 million to $6.275 million.
Chubb, when healthy, combines power and speed at 5-foot-11, 227 pounds. He has rushed for 6,843 career yards and 51 touchdowns. Chubb rushed for a career-high 1,525 yards and a dozen touchdowns in 2022 before getting hurt in 2023 two games into the season.
“He’s a tough runner, hard runner,” defensive end Danielle Hunter said. “The ability that he’s able to bring for his team, running through guys and making plays, that’s a plus for the team. We could always use something like that.”
For years, Chubb and Mixon were rivals in the AFC North division. Now, they’re teaming up in the AFC South.
“I was always afraid he would take over the game with his ability,” Chubb said. “He runs super hard. I think both of us have the same intangibles. It’ll be tough for defenses to stop.
“I think we’ll be great together. He’s a bigger guy, tall, explosive. He runs super hard, and I do the same thing. So, I think it’ll be us kind of doing that back-to-back against other defenses.”
Chubb also drew interest from the New Orleans Saints. Chubb, though, wanted to be a part of a playoff contender. The Texans have won the past two AFC South division titles under Ryans’ direction.
“He’s a young coach, a lot of energy, a lot of intensity,” Chubb said. “He’s young, fresh. He wants to win. I was questioning why they wanted me. And then I came here, and I saw a bunch of guys who like to work and not talk. And I realized I’m a perfect fit. So, I realized why they wanted me here.”
Offensive line improves
There was a distinct difference with the oft-scrutinized offensive line.
The Texans’ blockers did a solid job Monday morning, and they appeared to benefit greatly from being in full pads.
The Texans’ first-team offensive line was left tackle Cam Robinson, left guard Laken Tomlinson, center Jarrett Patterson, right guard Tytus Howard and rookie Aireontae Ersery at right tackle.
Ersery had his moments, but he also allowed a sack to Will Anderson Jr.
Robinson had some tough moments, too.
When the Texans substituted, the next offensive line was comprised of left tackle Zach Thomas, left guard Jaylon Thomas, center Jake Andrews, right guard Ed Ingram and right tackle Blake Fisher.
“By putting on the pads today, I saw our offensive line do a nice job of blocking the defensive ends and defensive tackles,” DeMeco Ryans said. “They also did a great job of getting after them as well. It’s going to be a really great competition.
“Our offensive line gets to go against one of the top defensive lines in the league every single day. You get to go against the top guys, so everybody’s going to get better from that. That’s what I saw today.”
The Texans had a fairly uneventful day as far as new injuries. Defensive end Darrell Taylor walked off under his own power after getting rolled up on. A source said the injury isn’t believed to be serious.
“With it being the first day of pads, what stood out, first and foremost, guys did a really great job of just staying up, off the ground,” Ryans said. “We want guys to still be able to protect each other, we’re still teammates. I understand we want to play physical football, but we got to protect each other.
“I thought our guys came out and did a really good job of that. You can see our running backs really running the football, how it will look, playing physical behind their pads. First day of pads, everybody was safe. I’m happy to get out clean today.”
Quick hits
Ryans has been impressed with backup running back Jawhar Jordan, who has displayed more quickness than the other backs at camp.
Rookie wide receiver Jaylin Noel, a third-round draft pick from Iowa State, excelled as he caught a touchdown pass from rookie quarterback Graham Mertz behind nickel Myles Bryant.
Fellow rookie wide receiver Jayden Higgins caught a touchdown pass. He has played outside and run routes out of the slot.
Wide receiver John Metchie III, in a battle for a roster spot, had a touchdown catch in what’s arguably his best day of training camp.
Tight end Cade Stover absorbed a hard hit from second-year safety Calen Bullock, but was unfazed.
Texans nickel Jalen Pitre didn’t practice along with backup Arthur Maulet.
Pitre has a relatively minor ankle injury that is expected to keep him out Tuesday, per a league source.
Christian Harris, in the final year of his contract, remains out with a lingering calf injury that sidelined him for the majority of last season and the entire offseason.
After passing their physicals and being activated over the weekend, running back J.J. Taylor, linebacker K.C. Ossai and center Eli Cox practiced for the first time at camp.
Ryans celebrated his 41st birthday Monday.
“Thank you for the birthday wishes, it’s always great for me,” Ryans said. “I’ve always worked on my birthday. It’s always been training camp, so that’s the normal for me. Everybody always asks, ‘What are you doing for your birthday?’
“I’m at training camp, working, sweating, so it’s a great day. I’m really grateful, blessed to see another year and I never take it for granted. Thank you guys for the warm welcome."
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com
