Now not most effective did the Cleveland Browns endure their first defeat of the season Monday evening, however additionally they misplaced the center and soul in their offense. All over the second one quarter of a 26-22 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Nick Chubb used to be carted off the farmland nearest struggling a appalling knee shock on a clash from Minkah Fitzpatrick.

ESPN’s broadcast group first of all elected to not display the replay, however one may listen the gasps from the society at Acrisure Stadium when it used to be proven at the jumbotron. The society upcoming confirmed their aid for Chubb by way of cheering for him as he used to be carted off to the reserve room.

Browns head tutor Kevin Stefanski showed Tuesday that Chubb suffered a vital knee shock and is done for the season. Chubb’s accidents incorporated a couple of torn ligaments, according to NFL Media. With Chubb out, Stefanski said that supplementary Jerome Ford, who in a bind for 106 yards on 16 carries in opposition to the Steelers, will now be the group’s “featured back.” Then again, the Browns will nonetheless glance so as to add any other participant on the place, in keeping with Stefanski. Consistent with Cleveland.com, distant agent Kareem Hunt and Rams rusher Cam Akers are a few of the choices Cleveland is exploring to aid change Chubb.

A four-time Professional Bowler, Chubb had 64 yards on 10 carries previous to getting injured. He had 106 yards at the field within the Browns’ Year 1 win over the Bengals. 

The lack of Chubb is essential for the Browns, who got into Monday evening with official playoff hopes. Now, the Browns should accumulation the ones hopes alive with out some of the NFL’s very best operating backs and total gamers. 

As for who they must in all probability usher in to aid cushion the deplete of most likely dropping Chubb, listed here are some choices.

Kareem Hunt

This will likely be a few of the customery fits, and for just right explanation why. Hunt remains to be to be had at the distant agent marketplace and, for the reason that he’s performed for the Browns for the former 4 seasons, he has large wisdom of the playbook and is usually a plug-and-play addition to the backfield. In 17 video games performed endmost season, the 28-year-old in a bind for 468 yards and 3 touchdowns era catching 35 passes for 210 yards and any other rating. If Cleveland desires to roll with Ford as its number one again, Hunt can be a pleasant secondary possibility who can tackle a larger workload if wanted.

Leonard Fournette

Fournette is in a matching status to Hunt. The veteran went unsigned this offseason and is recently searching for the appropriate alternative to stand, which might be able to be with the Browns post-Chubb. The 28-year-old can paintings each in between the tackles and as a go catcher, which might supplement Ford neatly. With the Buccaneers endmost season, Fournette totaled 1,191 yards from scrimmage and 6 touchdowns. That incorporated 73 receptions for 523 yards. 

Cam Akers

Cam Akers’ dating with the Rams has reputedly deteriorated, with the again being a wholesome lazy endmost date. Now, stories are that L.A. is striking him at the buying and selling cancel because it rolls ahead with Kyren Williams as its number one ball-carrier. With a necessity for some aid within the backfield, the Browns naturally create sense post-Chubb. The previous 2d spherical select in a bind for 786 yards (4.2 yards in keeping with raise) in 2022 with seven touchdowns. Within the Year 1 opener in opposition to Seattle, he in a bind for simply 29 yards on 22 makes an attempt, so he could be very best checked out as a complementary piece to Ford as he ascends to exchange Chubb.

Jonathan Taylor

If they would like a straight-up Chubb alternative, you’ll’t get a lot better than Jonathan Taylor. The Colts again is recently on injured secure, however can nonetheless be traded. In fact, his condition can be the very first thing Cleveland would have to make sure sooner than swinging this sort of trade in, however, when wholesome, Taylor is one of the league’s very best operating backs. Well-known as much as the season, the Colts did handover Taylor’s camp permission to hunt a industry, however not anything got here to fruition. As he will get nearer to being eligible to go back off IR, it’s going to be attention-grabbing to look if the ones industry talks warmth up. Getting a participant of Taylor’s caliber within the wrinkle would primary Cleveland’s operating sport as one of the crucial feared within the league and would more than likely be a welcome construction for the veteran as neatly.