Running back Nick Chubb will try to provide the Browns with an offensive spark when Cleveland faces the visiting Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday afternoon.
Chubb is expected to take the field for the first time since a Week 2 knee injury prematurely ended his 2023 season. He comes back in a time of need for Cleveland (1-5), which just traded wideout Amari Cooper to the Buffalo Bills on Tuesday and saw running back Jerome Ford sustain a hamstring injury during the first quarter of a 20-16 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles last Sunday.
Chubb practiced all week and will play against Cincinnati despite officially being listed as questionable. Ford was ruled out.
“Super nice to be able to have his presence, his energy, his work ethic, and just to have Chubb in the backfield,” Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson said. “He definitely means a lot, not just for this offense, but for this community and this organization.
“So definitely that excitement and hopefully that spark that we need to take it to another level.”
It might take a lot more than Chubb to get Cleveland on the right track, though, as the Browns are averaging the third-fewest points per game in the NFL (15.8) and have dropped their past four contests.
“I just think with where we are, we need to play sound offensive football to help our team,” Cleveland coach Kevin Stefanski said. “Sound offensive football, we all know what it looks like. It’s taking care of the ball. It’s being efficient and explosive on first and second down, being good in those critical moments.”
Early-season struggles have plagued Cincinnati (2-4), too. The Bengals got off to an 0-3 start, but they have since won two of their past three games, most recently beating the New York Giants 17-7 in Week 6.
Cincinnati’s defense finally stepped up, holding an opponent under 24 points for the first time since a season-opening 16-10 setback against the New England Patriots.
However, Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo knows that containing the Browns at home likely won’t be nearly as easy. Cincinnati has a six-game losing streak in Cleveland and has yielded an average of 27.5 points per contest during that skid.
“I made everybody aware of it (Wednesday) morning in our defensive meeting room that we have yet to get on the bus happy,” Anarumo said. “They are aware of what that building presents, what that team presents to us and the challenges. We have to step it up and do better.”
The Bengals should have nearly everyone available when they attempt to shed the losing streak. Cornerback DJ Turner II (ankle) was cleared to play after going from limited to full practice participation Friday. Cornerback D.J. Ivey (knee) is questionable.
The Browns ruled out safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (ankle) along with Ford. Running back Nyheim Hines (knee), center Ethan Pocic (knee), linebacker Jordan Hicks (elbow, triceps) and safety Juan Thornhill (calf) are questionable.
Sunday marks Cleveland’s first division game of the season. The Browns went 3-3 against AFC North foes in 2023.
