Browns sign Kareem Hunt to one-year deal after Nick Chubb injury
The Cleveland Browns are inking an old friend in Kareem Hunt to a one-year deal in the wake of Nick Chubb’s season-ending knee injury.
After spending the last four seasons with Cleveland, Hunt has been relegated to waiting for an opportunity. He’s visited other franchises, but a deal didn’t materialize, until Wednesday.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero was on the case, reporting the return of Hunt to the Browns as Cleveland looks to steady their offense moving forward.
“Reunion: The #Browns and veteran RB Kareem Hunt have agreed to terms on a one-year deal, per source,” tweeted Pelissero. “Hunt scored 23 TDs over the past four seasons in Cleveland.
“Now he’s back — and figures to have a lot of opportunities after Nick Chubb’s season-ending injury.”
While Hunt is returning to the fold, Chubb was at the Browns complex Tuesday morning. Cleveland leader Kevin Stefanski didn’t announce a date for Chubb’s surgery, but he did confirm that his star running back suffered a significant injury.
Chubb’s left knee bent at an awkward angle after a collision with Steelers DB Minkah Fitzpatrick. Chubb hurt the same knee when he played for Georgia.
Continuing, Chubb’s injury was so gruesome that ABC wouldn’t replay video of the hit. On the play, Chubb’s 10th carry of the game, Steelers linebacker Cole Holcomb had seemingly wrapped up the tackle when Fitzpatrick hit the running back at knee level.
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin even addressed the Chubb injury in his Tuesday press conference.
“Well wishes go out to Nick Chubb,” Tomlin said. “We’re competitors, but we’ve got a lot of respect for that man, as a player and as a man. You like to compete against guys like him, you like to beat guys like him, but you certainly don’t want to see catastrophic injury.”
On Monday, Chubb’s relief was Jerome Ford and Pierre Strong. Ford had 16 carries for 106 yards in relief of Chubb, and figures to be the top option moving forward, even with Hunt’s arrival.
The Chiefs selected Hunt in the third round of the 2017 draft. He led the NFL in rushing his rookie season. The Browns signed him in 2019. Hunt was a free agent after requesting a trade from the Browns early in the 2022 season.
While Nick Chubb will miss the remainder of the season, the Browns running back still remains popular with the fans across the country. The Georgia Bulldogs sent him best wishes as did Mike DeWine, the governor of Ohio.