CLEVELAND — Those first moments for Nick Chubb back on the field, back among his Browns teammates, were astounding.
“It didn’t feel real,” Chubb said. "It felt like a dream."
More than a year after Chubb's left knee was wrecked on a routine running play for the second time, the Pro Bowl back returned to practice this week, a major step in a comeback few doubted would happen.
“I feel like I’ve been up and battling this for a while now,” Chubb said Thursday, adding his surgically repaired knee withstood his first workout. “It was great to get all that off my shoulders and finally get back out there."
Back in his No. 24 jersey and orange helmet, Chubb practiced Wednesday for the first time since undergoing surgery after he got hurt on a hit in Week 2 last season at Pittsburgh. The 28-year-old needed two operations to repair two ligaments, meniscus and his medial capsule.
He's been working his way back since. Running. Lifting weights. Doing all he can to get as close as possible to being Nick Chubb, game-breaking back.
He still doesn't know if that's possible.
“I guess we’ll all find out at the same time,” he told reporters.
Chubb won't play this week against Washington, but there's a chance he could be active for next week's game at Philadelphia. In designating him to return to practice, the Browns (1-3) have a 21-day window to add him to the roster.
Chubb has his own timeline to when he'll play.
“Whenever I feel good,” he said.
He's looked good, like himself, during the portion of practice open to media members. But Chubb knows there is nothing that can replicate being in a game, when his knee will be tested to the maximum.
This is nothing new for Chubb, who tore ligaments in the same knee while playing at Georgia in 2015.
At some point, he's going to take a hard hit on the knee. He's unafraid.
“Once you get out there and you’re running around, it’s like you’re 8 years old again,” said Chubb, who has rushed for 6,511 yards and scored 48 touchdowns. “It’s like riding a bike. That’s not something that’s in my head. I mean, you can’t control that.
"I'm going to go out there and play fast.”
It's been a rough start to the season for Cleveland, especially on offense as injuries, penalties and mistakes have contributed to three losses in four games.
Wide receiver Amari Cooper said Chubb's return came at the perfect time.
“Huge emotional boost,” Cooper said. "When you have a dominant run game that’s really important in this league, to have the type of running back that could turn a crack into a hole, truthfully. And so it’d be a huge addition to have him back in both practice and in the games.
“Everybody around here is excited for that.”
