Nick Chubb, Greg Newsome II among Cleveland Browns to start training camp on injury lists

BEREA — The social media posts throughout the offseason showing Nick Chubb seemingly doing super-human things despite being months removed from multiple knee surgeries were enough to raise hopes for what surprises the start of training camp may hold. Chubb, though, never said he'd necessarily be on the field the first day of camp.

So it was no surprise when the Browns announced the four-time Pro Bowl running back was among a group of players who would start on the active/physically unable to perform (PUP) list on Wednesday, a day after the team's veterans reported for camp . However, there was a big surprise when it was announced who was starting on the non-football injury list: cornerback Greg Newsome II.

Newsome, who has his fifth-year option exercised by the team prior to the May 2 deadline, was listed with a hamstring injury by the team. He was one of two players on the non-football injury list, with the other being running back Nyheim Hines.

Chubb was one of five to be placed on the PUP list, along with safety D'Anthony Bell (shin), offensive tackle Jack Conklin (knee), defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson (knee) and offensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. (knee). Chubb, Conklin, Wills and Hines all did not participate in on-field activities in minicamp.

Players on the active/PUP list, as well as active/non-football illness or non-football injury lists, are eligible to return at any point during camp once they pass their physical. The Browns are holding what they're terming a walk-through on Wednesday before conducting the first official practice on Thursday at The Greenbrier in West Virginia.

Wednesday marked 10 months and six days since Chubb suffered the left knee injury in the second quarter of the Browns' Week 2 loss to the Steelers when Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick landed on his leg. It was the second time he injured that knee, having done so while at the University of Georgia on Oct. 10, 2015.

Chubb had his first surgery on Sept. 29 to repair damage to the medial collateral ligament (MCL), the medial capsule and meniscus, all which had also been repaired while he was at Georgia. The second surgery on Nov. 14 repaired a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), which he hadn't damaged in 2015.

“I would say it does help just knowing how to attack it mentally and knowing I might not be at a certain point through the rehab process that I want to be," Chubb said on June 5, "but I know just taking it day by day and the weeks add up and the months add up and eventually I'll get to where I want to be.”

The injury at Georgia still didn't cost Chubb any games in either the 2016 or 2017 seasons. He didn't set any kind of timetable for a return from this injury when he spoke in June, although he did say "We'll see" when asked if he could see himself back in time for the Sept. 8 season opener against the Dallas Cowboys.

Chubb didn't start load running as part of the rehab process until April. Over the last month, multiple videos have come out on social media of him working out at his high school alma mater in Cedartown, Ga., with almost no evidence of the injury, including one on July 15 that showed him doing two squat reps with 540 pounds .

Chubb wasn't the only running back who the Browns are hoping to get big things from who also made an expected appearance on the list.. Hines continues to recover from the ACL tear he suffered a year ago in a jet ski accident while he was with the Buffalo Bills, an accident that cost him his season.

Hines, who previously also played for the Indianapolis Colts, had his knee surgery last Aug. 8. He said on May 22 that his goal was "to be ready right around Aug. 1 or end of July, depending on how my just leg comes around. But goal is to be out there for Week 1."

Wills, who is on his fifth-year option this season, had been sidelined since suffering a high-grade MCL sprain, a low-grade posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) sprain and bone bruises in his right knee during the Browns' Week 9 win over the Arizona Cardinals on Nov. 5. He underwent season-ending arthroscopic surgery on the knee on Dec. 12, and was not an on-field participant during OTAs or minicamp.

Conklin posted on social media earlier this month he was back after being out since tearing both the ACL and MCL in his left knee during last season's opening win over the Cincinnati Bengals. The two-time Pro Bowler saw two of his last seasons with the Browns end in knee injuries, having also suffered a late-November torn patellar tendon in 2021.

Cleveland Browns sign OT Chim Okorafor, DE Jeremiah Martin

The Browns announced three roster moves that involved adding or subtracting players from the 90-man initial camp roster. They signed defensive end Jeremiah Martin and offensive tackle Chim Okorafor, while waiving linebacker Caleb Johnson.

The 6-foot-3, 265-pound Martin is officially in his first season out of the University of Washington after originally signing with the Browns as an undrafted free agent last year.. Martin spent part of last season on the New York Giants’ practice squad.

The 6-foot-6, 320-pound Okorafor is officially in his first NFL season out of Benedictine. He was originally signed by the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent last year, while also spending time with Minnesota Vikings.

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: Nick Chubb, Greg Newsome II among Cleveland Browns to start training camp on injury lists