BEREA, Ohio – The first day in pads was not friendly for Browns running back Nick Chubb.
The Browns’ backhorse – and the NFL’s second leading rusher in 2019 – ran off the field with a coach, after taking a high hit by linebacker Mack Wilson, and did not return. He is being evaluated for a concussion and could be placed in the minutes.
The incident happened halfway through the rain-soaking practice when Chubb caught a pass in Baker Mayfield’s left flat and stepped up the sideline. Wilson closed and hit Chubb high in the neck and shoulder area, with both players to the ground. Taking to the ground was not part of the protocol on the first day in pads, and Wilson quickly became infamous.
Tight end David Njoku and guard Joel Bitonio came into his face, and defensive coordinator Joe Woods wrote his name from the opposite sideline. Kevin Stefanski weighed his way through traffic and had words with the second-year linebacker.
The blow came less than 24 hours after Stefanski warned his players about being smart with the pads on, especially after no offseason practices.
“We had that conversation yesterday,” Stefanski said before the practice. “The pace of practice should look exactly the same as it did [Sunday] in shells. They need to understand how hard to exercise and care for each other, regardless of the dress or clothing they wear. “
Of course, the defenders were probably worried about finally hitting one after not doing so since December. What’s more, Wilson made it clear on Sunday that he’s tired of the Browns’ linebackers not being respected this season, including a 31st ranking by profootballfocus.com.
‘You actually say that [we] are a bit crazy, ” he said. ‘For me, so I take it, because you say we are the [31st] linebacker core in the National Football League, and that’s just total respect. I know the guys in the room saw it, and I make sure I remind those guys what these people think of us.
‘I just always tell them,’ we’ll prove the world wrong. We’ll just keep going to work. Hold our heads down and just focus on the task. ‘ That just takes one day at a time, because everyone’s figuring it out and we’ll do it. We’ll just keep working and show everyone else. ‘
Luckily for the Browns, they have two of the best running backs in the league in Chubb and Kareem Hunt, who won the rushing title as a rookie in 2017. Hunt took the first team reps after Chubb slowly ran into the field house .
Earlier in practice, Chubb had the rainball knocked off him by cornerback Kevin Johnson, and linebacker BJ Goodson came back.
If Chubb misses any length of time, Hunt can keep the fort and help prepare the Browns for the Sept. 13 opener in Baltimore. He led the NFL with 1,327 yards as a rookie, and Chubb finished second last season second with 1,494. He was first for most of the season until Derrick Henry of Tennessee swept the title from him in the final with 211 yards for a total of 1,539 yards.
– This post was updated at 4:17 AM EDT with the news that Chubb is being evaluated for a concussion.
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