Browns RB Nick Chubb receives encouraging news about season-ending knee injury

After suffering a gruesome season-ending knee injury on "Monday Night Football earlier this week," Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb received some optimistic news on Saturday regarding his future. 

According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Chubb's injury doesn't appear career-threatening and tests showed the damage isn't as severe as previously thought, revealing only a torn left MCL. 

"Sources said that while Chubb's ACL was stretched on the play, doctors do not believe that ligament is torn," Schefter wrote. "Surgery is likely to happen this week, and sources said the hope is that more damage is not found." 

The most recent update on Chubb's status puts his rehab at 6-to-8 months, giving him a good chance at being ready to return by the start of the 2024 campaign. Considering the doom and gloom surrounding Chubb throughout the week, Saturday's news is the best he and the Browns could have hoped for. 

Chubb suffered the injury on an unfortunate-but-legal hit to the knee from Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. It was a blow so stomach-churning that ESPN chose not to show replays "out of respect to the viewers and Nick Chubb." 

Without their No. 1 back and arguably their best offensive producer, the Browns reunited with former running back Kareem Hunt, signing him on Wednesday. Hunt will likely split carries with second-year back Jerome Ford. Filling in after Chubb went down, Ford took full advantage of his opportunity, rushing for 106 yards (16 carries) while adding three catches for 25 yards and a touchdown in the Browns' 26-22 loss to the Steelers. 

How the Browns will fair without Chubb remains to be seen. However, despite the positive news on their star, the team will have to lean on a former fifth-round draft pick and a running back they signed off the street.