In an emotional and heart-stopping Monday Night Football game, Browns star running back Nick Chubb was carted off the field due to a horrific knee injury that left both players and fans shocked.
WARNING - This article contains content that some viewers may find upsetting...
Even ESPN on ABC chose not to initially air replays of the incident, instead choosing the spare the viewers the graphic nature of the injury.
"I’m told the replay of Nick Chubb getting injured is not to be seen," Monday Night Football’s Joe Buck said, to which, analyst Troy Aikman replied: "Yeah, we’re not going to show it. It’s as bad as you can imagine."
The unfortunate event occurred during the Browns-Steelers game at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, impacting the Browns' performance and their 26-22 loss to the Steelers. And the pain was felt across the entire team. "It (freaking) hurts," stated Myles Garrett, the Browns' defensive end, capturing the sentiments of players and fans alike, per the New York Post.
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed the gravity of Chubb's injury in a post-game press conference, describing it as "significant" and suggesting that it will most likely end his season.
According to NFL.com, Chubb is suspected to have suffered multiple torn ligaments, but will be undergoing an MRI scan on Tuesday to confirm the nature of the injury.
The Browns' star rusher - who had previously experienced a similar injury in 2015 during his sophomore season at Georgia - took a handoff from quarterback Deshaun Watson during a first-and-goal at the 8-yard line. He was subsequently hit low by Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, causing him to clutch his knee in agony.
"We feel, obviously, for Nick," commented Stefanski after the game. "But I know Nick and his teammates know, and you have to move on." The sentiments were echoed by Garrett, who said, "He's a man of few words who just keeps his head down and he's always working. That's the integrity he has for the game. That’s what we hope to have now, especially for him.”
The unsettling moment even prompted an audible gasp from the Heinz Field crowd, as described by ESPN's play-by-play announcer Joe Buck. Moreover, Steelers fans showed their sportsmanship by chanting Chubb's name as he was taken off the field for medical evaluation.
Chubb's injury led to Jerome Ford stepping in as the Browns' running back. Ford quickly scored a touchdown and successfully ran in a two-point conversion, bringing the score to 11-7 in the second quarter. In a twist of fate, Fitzpatrick, who was involved in Chubb's injury, also required medical attention and was later ruled out due to a chest injury.
The sudden turn of events had a ripple effect throughout the NFL community. Stars like Cardinals QB Kyler Murray, Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert, and Ravens QB Lamar Jackson took to social media, sharing posts that read, "Prayers for Nick Chubb."
JJ Watt, the former defensive end, summed up the collective sentiment with a tweet that read: "Just the worst feeling. Gutted for Nick Chubb. Hope Minkah is ok. Injuries suck man. They absolutely suck."
We wish Nick all the best on his recovery journey - and we hope to see him back on the field again soon.
