OPEN CHALLENGE BETWEEN Cleveland browns nation and the yankees…….
The Cleveland Browns agreed to a deal with running back Nyheim Hines on Tuesday, adding some depth for when Nick Chubb returns to the lineup.
The signing of Hines is in many ways a good indication that the Browns are feeling good about Chubb’s status. Hines is not a similar runner to Chubb and is expected to contribute mostly in the passing game and on special teams. He has snagged 248 receptions over his five seasons in the NFL and has carried the ball just 348 times.
“Nyheim Hines has kick return experience and experience with Ken Dorsey,” Zac Jackson of The Athletic tweeted after the signing. “Everything continues to point to Nick Chubb eventually being the Browns No. 1 running back
Having a capable pass-catching back like Hines will be solid for the Browns once Chubb is back as the workhorse in the backfield. The issue right now is that much is unclear about Chubb’s immediate future in Cleveland.
The four-time Pro Bowler is expected to be ready at some point next season. His exact timeline for a return is uncertain. Chubb suffered a catastrophic knee injury in Week 2 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He had both his ACL and MCL repaired during two separate surgeries, the latest of those procedures coming in November.
There’s also the issue of Chubb’s contract. Browns general manager Andrew Berry referred to it as the “elephant in the room” during his end-of-season press conference. Chubb will count $15.8 million against the cap next season. However, he has no guaranteed money left on his deal. If the Browns released Chubb it would result in just $4 million of dead cap.