Nick Chubb’s first moments back on the field with his Browns teammates were amazing.
“It didn’t feel real,” Chubb said. “It felt like a dream.”
After more than a year since his left knee was injured for the second time during a regular play, the Pro Bowl running back returned to practice this week, marking a significant step in a recovery many believed would happen.
“I feel like I’ve been up and battling this for a while now,” Chubb said Thursday, noting that his knee held up during his first workout. “It was great to get all that off my shoulders and finally get back out there.”
Wearing his No. 24 jersey and orange helmet, Chubb practiced for the first time since his surgery after he got hurt in Week 2 last season against Pittsburgh. The 28-year-old had to undergo two surgeries to fix two ligaments, his meniscus, and his medial capsule.
He has been working hard to return, running, lifting weights, and doing everything he can to get back to being the game-changing player he is.
However, he’s uncertain if he will reach that level. “I guess we’ll all find out at the same time,” he told reporters.
Chubb will not play this week against Washington, but there’s a possibility he could be ready for next week’s game in Philadelphia. By allowing him to return to practice, the Browns (1-3) have a 21-day period to add him back to the roster.
Chubb has his own schedule for when he will play. “Whenever I feel good,” he said.
He has looked like himself during the parts of practice that were open to the media, but Chubb knows there’s nothing like being in a game, where his knee will face its toughest test.