Cleveland Browns RB Nick Chubb in concussion protocol after big hit in training camp
BEREA, Ohio — Pro Bowl running back Nick Chubb has been placed in concussion protocol after he absorbed a high hit from linebacker Mack Wilson and left Monday’s practice early.
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski updated Chubb’s status Tuesday during a Zoom video conference and said he wasn’t happy with Wilson’s hit. Chubb didn't practice Tuesday. Wilson, meanwhile, was demoted to the second team and later was carted off after suffering an apparent left leg injury.
“That’s disappointing,” Stefanski said of Chubb’s injury shortly before the fourth full-squad practice of training camp. “We’ve got to be smart. We have a lot of work to do. We’re going to continue to have our pads on. We’ve just got to make sure as a team that we get our work done and get it done while taking care of each other.”
With the Browns practicing in heavy rain and wearing pads for the first time this summer, Chubb caught a short pass from quarterback Baker Mayfield and ran along the left sideline when Wilson wrapped his right arm around Chubb’s neck and took down the starting running back. The side of Chubb’s helmet hit the ground. Chubb walked off the field with an athletic trainer a few minutes later.
Tight end David Njoku got in Wilson’s face immediately after the play.
On Tuesday, Njoku declined to disclose what he told Wilson, but Njoku made it clear he didn’t approve of the hit on Chubb.
“This is a tough sport, and with that being said, we had our first padded practice yesterday,” Njoku said on Zoom. “Nevertheless, that wasn’t right nor does anybody condone that behavior. But tensions fly. Things happen. But we try to take care of each other.”
Tight ends coach Drew Petzing said he had no qualms about Njoku confronting Wilson.
“I told [Njoku] this in the meeting: As long as we’re doing it within the realm of the rules, we’ve got to support our teammates,” Petzing said. “He felt like he had to stand up for his teammate, and he can do that. I’ve got no problem with that and I don’t think Coach Stefanski does, either. If anything, that’s a positive, right? He cares enough about the people he’s in the room with to do those type of things, and I think that shone through on the field. I think his teammates really understand and I think we do as a staff.”
On Monday night, Wilson reacted to criticism he received on social media by tweeting the following: “I just practice with a lot of passion, my intentions is to never hurt anyone on my team nor any other player I’m going up against. We good though keep the negative comments to yourself. #NoBarkALLBITE.”
With Chubb missing time, there will be an increased workload for fellow standout running back Kareem Hunt and backups Dontrell Hilliard, D’Ernest Johnson and Benny LeMay in the buildup to the Sept. 13 opener in Baltimore.
Chubb has never missed a game since the Browns drafted him in the second round (35th overall) in 2018 out of the University of Georgia. Chubb is coming off a tremendous 2019 season in which he started all 16 games and had 1,494 yards and eight touchdowns on 298 carries (5.0 average) to go along with 36 catches for 278 yards. He finished second in the NFL in rushing yards.