Cleveland Browns: Nick Chubb Expected to Start Season on PUP, Miss at Least Four Games
Nick Chubb won't rejoin the Browns' lineup until at least Week 5, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
The Browns are expected to leave Chubb on the PUP list, meaning the star running back will miss at least the first four games of the regular season.
"They have said they're going to bring this along slowly, make sure they're very careful with Nick Chubb," Schefter said on ESPN’s “Get Up.” "The expectation still is that he will play at some point this season. But it's not going to be the first four games of the season."
Chubb's season-ending knee injury in Week 2 of 2023 required two surgeries to repair his medial capsule, meniscus, MCL, and ACL. The 28-year-old Chubb is a four-time Pro Bowler who had four straight 1,000-yard seasons from 2019-2022.
Jerome Ford led the Browns in rushing last season (813 yards) and is expected to start for Cleveland while Chubb is sidelined. The Ravens will play the Browns in Weeks 8 and 18.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Mike Tomlin Won't Name Starting Quarterback Until Week's End
Russell Wilson and Justin Fields will have to wait a little longer to find out who's starting Week 1.
Head Coach Mike Tomlin said he won't name a starting quarterback until after this week's practices in preparation for Pittsburgh's opener in Atlanta against the Falcons.
"We'll make a decision at the end of our work week," Tomlin told reporters via NBC’s Pro Football Talk. "We have three days of Steelers versus Steelers work and why not do it then? … We've got ample time to prepare for Atlanta and make whatever decisions or announcements regarding division of labor or pecking orders and so forth, and so we'll do it at the end of the work week."
Both Wilson and Fields led touchdown drives in the first quarter of Pittsburgh's 24-17 loss to the Detroit Lions in their preseason finale. Wilson started the game and is the favorite to start Week 1. He has more experience than Fields, and three of Pittsburgh's first six opponents are from the AFC West, where Wilson played last season with the Denver Broncos.
Wilson completed both of his passes during the touchdown drive, including a 32-yard completion to George Pickens on third-and-11.
Cincinnati Bengals: Ja'Marr Chase Returns to Practice, Ends 'Hold In'
Ja'Marr Chase decided that Sunday wasn't a day to rest.
The Bengals' star wide receiver ended his "hold in" and practiced for the first time this summer. Practice was closed to the media, but the team posted video of Chase taking reps.
Chase is seeking a long-term contract and had been watching practices without participating. The Bengals have already picked up Chase's fully guaranteed $21.8 million option for 2025. However, he is reportedly looking for something in the neighborhood of the four-year $140 million extension that Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings recently signed.
Chase has topped 1,000 yards receiving in each of his first three seasons, averaging 89 catches a season and 13.9 yards per catch with 29 career touchdowns.
