Browns Make 'Very Rare' Exception for Nick Chubb

Cleveland Browns star running back Nick Chubb will miss at least the first four games of the season, but he's still in good shape financially on his restructured, incentive-laden contract.

Chubb injured his knee in Week 2 last season against the Pittsburgh Steelers. It's required two separate surgeries to fix both his ACL and MCL.

The Browns and Chubb agreed to re-do his contract this offseason, lowering his cap hit from $15.85 million to around $6.275 million. He'll make just over $1 million in guaranteed money but can earn much of his cash back through incentives.

With Chubb ruled out for the start of the year, there were worries that the four-time Pro Bowler would lose out on his incentives. However, NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport revealed that the Browns planned ahead and made a rare exception for Chubb.

"The Browns planned for Nick Chubb to begin the season on the PUP list back in the spring when they restructured his deal," Rapoport tweeted on Monday . "Here’s how: Most roster bonuses require 17 games active to earn the full amount. Chubb’s deal is a very rare exception, requiring only 12 games."

If there's a player to make an exception for, it's Chubb. He has amassed an impressive 6,511 yards and 48 touchdowns over 77 games. He consistently delivers, averaging 84.6 yards per game and an outstanding 5.3 yards per carry.

In Chubb's absence, the Browns will rely on Jerome Ford, D'Onta Foreman and Pierre Strong Jr. to carry the load on the ground. Cleveland opens the season on September 8 at home against the Dallas Cowboys.

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