Was Signing D'Onta Foreman An Insurance Policy On Nick Chubb?

Nick Chubb is still recovering from his devastating leg injury and the signing of D'Onta Foreman may be a sign that Chubb won't be ready for the start of the 2024 season.

The Browns' organization would certainly like to see superstar running back Nick Chubb return from his brutal knee injury by week one of the 2024 season.

If anyone could make that quick of a recovery from such a gruesome injury and get to full speed by September, it would be Nick Chubb. His work ethic and attitude have been greatly appreciated in Cleveland since entering the league in 2018.

In a perfect world, he gets back to 100 percent this offseason, but the Browns will likely play it safe with the veteran RB if he is not fully ready. 

The announcement of D'Onta Foreman signing with the Cleveland Browns on Wednesday may actually be a glaring sign that the front office expects at least a few weeks without Chubb in the backfield. 

Dec 10, 2023; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears running back D'Onta Foreman (21) practices before the game against the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike Dinovo-USA TODAY Sports / Mike Dinovo-USA TODAY Sports

Foreman is a powerful runner who best excels in short yardage situations. The bruising 235 pound back ran for 425 yards and four touchdowns in nine games with the Chicago Bears last season.

In 2023, Jerome Ford stepped up as the feature running back for Cleveland in the absence of Chubb. In short yardage or goal-to-go situations, however, Kareem Hunt was the one getting his number called.

Aug 21, 2022; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns running back Jerome Ford (34) runs the ball against the Philadelphia Eagles during the first quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-USA TODAY Sports / © Scott Galvin-USA TODAY Sports

At the very least the addition of Foreman confirms the belief that Hunt will likely not receive a call next season in an emergency situation, despite helping ease the pain of Chubb's loss last season. Foreman will perfectly replace Hunt's short yardage production in the event that Ford is asked to serve as the feature back to start the season.

Foreman does not offer any value in the passing game. That's where Ford and the newly acquired third down receiving back Nyheim Hines will come into play. 

Hines is likely to assume the team's kick returner role, while also serving as a change of pace back on third down next season.

If Chubb misses time, I expect the construction of the running back room to look very similar to the one we saw for the vast majority of 2023. The only way that changes is if Cleveland selects a running back early in the draft.

Even when Chubb puts his pads back on, the Browns may be smart to give him a pitch count rather than supply him with a heavy workload immediately.