'You got to slow Nick down': Browns RB coach Duce Staley impressed by Nick Chubb's return

BEREA — No one was more excited to see running back Nick Chubb back on the field than Browns running backs coach Duce Staley. At the same time, there was a balancing act that had to go on for him this week as Chubb went through his first practices since last year's knee injury.

"You guys know Nick," Staley said Friday morning. "You got to save Nick from Nick. He wants to go out there, he wants to be on the scout team. He wants to run around on special teams. He wants to come over there and do drills. So you got to slow Nick down, and all the players and coaches see that and we feed off of that."

Chubb returned to practice Wednesday, and went through his first fully padded practice Thursday. It was the first time he had been on a football field participating since his right knee injury on Sept. 18, 2023, in Pittsburgh.

The Browns officially ruled out Chubb — as well as running back Nyheim Hines, who is on the non-football injury list but also practiced — for Sunday when the Browns (1-3) travel to the Washington Commanders (3-1). However, both practiced for the third consecutive day, a positive sign going forward.

This is the second time Chubb has had to come back from a major injury to the knee, having torn multiple ligaments in it in 2015 while at the University of Georgia. He returned in time to play the entire 2016 season from that injury.

"Coming back from one, I mean, is historic to me," Staley said. "Coming back, and the percentages on serious injuries when they tell you from a doctor's perspective, if you can play, if you can, at what percentage you're going to be. With guys like Nick and other guys who's been in that position, like myself, you push yourself like no other. You love when someone tell you that you can't do anything if you use the fire."

Staley hasn't lacked his own fire since he was hired by Browns coach Kevin Stefanski in January. Chubb, in talking to the media on Thursday, said his new position coach was "a different animal."

That's something Staley reciprocated when talking about Chubb. When asked to describe what sets Chubb apart from all of the other running back he's been around, he said it's simple.

"It's the work ethic," Staley said. "Now I've been around a lot of good running backs, and all of 'em work. Nick works hard and he's finishing. So when you look at Nick versus the scout team, no matter who it is defensively, no matter what plays he have, no matter if he has the ball or not, he's finishing 20 and 15 yards down the field. So that's what makes Nick special."

The fact Chubb only returned to practice this week didn't mean he wasn't around. Staley and multiple other running backs spoke highly of the work he had put in during meetings and other activities.

That only ratcheted up the anticipation around the Browns for when Chubb returned on Wednesday.

"Yeah, so the excitement started way before he got on the field," Staley said. "From the players in the building, personnel in the building, just knowing that Nick was being able to go out there and practice, being able to put on his shoulder pads, being able to put on his helmet and run around with the guys.

"So they were all excited. You felt the energy from everybody and getting out on the field. I remember telling him, 'Hey, man, your first day back, just get out there, run around, have fun and don't worry about anything else.'"

(This story was updated with new information.)

Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: 'You got to slow Nick down': Browns RB coach Duce Staley impressed by Nick Chubb's return