Stopping the run has been a top focus for the Cowboys as they’ve revamped their defense under new coordinator Mike Zimmer. Now comes word that the unit won’t get be fully tested right out of the blocks once the regular season begins, as their Week 1 opponent will likely be without its top backfield weapon to start the 2024 campaign.
ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter has reported Monday morning that the Cleveland Browns will leave running back Nick Chubb on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list, meaning the four-time Pro Bowler will miss the first four games of the season.
The revelation is not a huge surprise. Chubb, 28, has not played since Week 2 of last year, when he suffered a torn MCL and partially torn ACL in a game against Pittsburgh. The 2018 second-round draft pick out of Georgia has yet to practice this offseason.
Cleveland is expected to leave Nick Chubb on the Physically Unable to Perform List, which means he is ineligible to be active during the first four games of the season, per league sources. pic.twitter.com/hegxTKBgJ7
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 26, 2024
Chubb came within four yards of a 1,000-yard rushing season as a rookie and then topped that mark the next four years straight, amassing a career-best 1,525 yards on the ground in 2022.
Despite posting prolific numbers overall, Chubb has not done much damage to the Cowboys. He was injured in the first quarter of their only previous meeting, in 2020, recording just six carries for 43 yards before exiting the contest.
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The Cowboys have done some overhauling on the interior of their defensive line this offseason, adding Jordan Phillips and Linval Joseph in recent days. Second-year man and former first-round draft pick Mazi Smith is expected to take a major step forward after a lackluster debut season, joining Osa Odighizuwa at defensive tackle.
The Browns will likely look to Jerome Ford to pick up the slack for Chubb when the Cowboys visit Sept. 8. Depth pieces D’Onta Foreman and Pierre Strong Jr. are also expected to make Cleveland’s 53-man roster.
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