Scouting Ahead: Cleveland Browns week 7 opponent, Denver Broncos

Will Nick Chubb return?

The Browns elite rushing attack was halved before their game against the Arizona Cardinals even began. RB 1 Nick Chubb missed the action on Sunday with a calf injury, an injury that also kept him from practicing on Monday.

He will not return according to the team and that means they will be without him and Kareem Hunt on Thursday night. His injury, which looked pretty bad when he left the game, will likely keep him out of action for several weeks. Without Chubb, the Browns will rely on D’Ernest Johnson and Demetric Felton, admirable performers at the position but nowhere near the level of quality that Chubb and Hunt bring to the game.

Chubb’s availability is a huge factor for the Browns going forward. He’s not just a pivotal weapon on the Browns’ offense capable of pounding the opposition to a pulp, he is a key to unlocking the rest of the team’s attacking talent. His presence forces defenses to stay honest and draws attention away from receivers. A double punch of Chubb and Hunt is the perfect rushing attack, but if they can’t have both the one the Browns would prefer is Chubb.

Johnson and Felton can fill in the gaps, but they cannot replicate what RB 1 brings to the table. They can be important in the passing game and finding a way around a difficult defense, but they can’t pound the rock the way the Browns need. The Browns need Nick Chubb.