NFL Breaking News: Nick Chubb Injury Update & Fantasy Football Impact
Injuries are an unfortunate reality of this game. But not all injuries are created equally. Some you hope the guy comes back in a week or two, some you hope they come back next year, and some you simply hope they can play again at all. For those that saw the video of the injury to Nick Chubb, you know that this one falls into that third category. Initial reactions are that it is likely ACL/MCL and could involve the PCL/LCL as well but we are all waiting on information to confirm. First and foremost, we are sending positive thoughts to the Nick Chubb, his family, and Browns nation. But it’s also our job to navigate this landscape for our fantasy football waiver wire adds and our weekly rankings. So we have to discuss the impact of this injury and the potential aftermath from that context.
Nick Chubb Injury Fantasy Football Replacements
Jerome Ford
The obvious answer right away is Jerome Ford. He was already involved before the injury and he scored the touchdown almost immediately after it happened. Given what Kevin Stefanski wants to do and the quality of this offensive line with folks like Joel Bitonio, Jerome Ford needs to a be a priority waiver add in any league where he’s available. This is that “handcuff plus” situation that our own Britt Flinn was harping on all offseason and we have now entered plus territory.
Pierre Strong
The Browns were already incredibly thin on the depth chart with basically just Chubb and Ford so they traded for Pierre Strong The Patriots had Rhamondre Stevenson and signed Ezekiel Elliott which made the fourth round pick expendable. This is a player who ran a 4.37 forty yard dash at the combine which is literally 99th percentile speed per Player Profiler which makes him an ingtriging option.
Kareem Hunt
This is simple. He’s been in Cleveland before. He knows the system. He’s a free agent. It would make all the sense in the world for them to bring him back and give him the role that he had wanted all along. Given his ability in the passing game, we would likely see a split with Jerome Ford in the early down role and Kareem Hunt in his typical pass down role. I highly doubt that Hunt would sign with the Browns if he was not going to be involved.
Leonard Fournette
Kareem Hunt didn’t exactly leave on the best terms after demanding a trade and being phased out of the offense in 2022. Sometimes there’s bad blood when things end that way so Kareem Hunt might not be an option at all. Fournette is the next best option out there in free agency.
Cam Akers
Cam Akers was a healthy scratch this week - there was talk of him having a bad week of practice and being on the trade block. Well, the Browns very likely will be perusing the trade block this week. It almost makes too much sense so maybe don’t drop Cam Akers just yet if that was your plan.
Player News
Ravens signed DT John Jenkins to a one-year contract.
The 35-year-old 13th-year pro slides in as a 1-for-1 Michael Pierce replacement after the former Raven retired in March. Although strictly a two-down player, Jenkins actually played a new career high 606 snaps for the Raiders last season. He probably won’t reach that total in Baltimore, but he should see plenty of work as a run-stopper.
49ers signed K Greg Joseph.
The 30-year-old journeyman spent time with each of the Giants, Commanders and Jets last season. He’ll serve as a veteran, in-house option should third-year pro Jake Moody look shaky this summer after an underwhelming 2024.
49ers signed Brock Purdy to a five-year, $265 million contract extension.
Per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Purdy gets $181 million in total guarantees with $165.1 million in the first three new years. He is now under contract through 2030. The 2022 Mr. Irrelevant flashed in a handful of starts as a rookie and immediately proved to be Kyle Shanahan’s next efficiency phenom in 2023 with 4,280 yards and 31 scores. Purdy’s numbers fell in 2024, but he did enough to keep the offense on the tracks despite a rash of injuries, even if the 49ers lumbered to a 6-11 record. Purdy managed 3,864 yards and 20 scores in 15 games and showed an improved ability to work out of structure and under pressure. Though he may not have a truly elite ceiling, Purdy is beginning to beat the system quarterback allegations after just two seasons as the full-time starter. With the league’s easiest schedule on tap for 2025, expect a rebound from Purdy and the entire team this year.
Jets released K Greg Zuerlein.
Defensive end Michael Fletcher was signed in a corresponding move. Zuerlein has kicked for the Jets since 2022. He suffered a knee injury last year and briefly returned before being placed back on injured reserve. Zuerlein appeared in eight games and went a dreadful 9-of-15 on his field goal tries. The 60 percent hit rate was by far the worst of his career. Now 37 years old, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Legatron hang up the cleats for good after being released. If he wants to keep kicking, another team will be more than willing to at least give him a camp battle to win.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter said his guess is that the NFL will ban the tush push during next week’s owners’ meeting.
Schefter didn’t cite any sources directly but reiterated the point later in the latest episode of The Adam Schefter Podcast, saying he “wouldn’t be surprised” if the owners voted to outlaw the play. Losing the free touchdown play would undoubtedly hurt Philly’s offense and Jalen Hurts’ fantasy outlook, but it’s hard to imagine a team with Hurts, an elite offensive line, and Saquon Barkley not finding other ways to get in the end zone from a yard out. If the tush push is banned, it would likely just shuffle some of Hurts’ touchdowns to Barkley. Other teams including the Bills have experimented with similar plays, but no one has found as much success as the Eagles. The owners will also be voting on a change to the playoff seeding rules. The proposed change would seed teams based purely on their record instead of each division winner earning a top-four seed. While that may be a more logical way to do things, it’s certainly less fun.
Steelers beat writer Nick Farabaugh reports the team has called the Saints about a possible trade for Chris Olave.
According to Farabaugh, one source described the Steelers’ inquiry as “a due diligence call” while adding that a trade “doesn’t seem likely to happen” at this time. The Steelers trade George Pickens to the Cowboys just over a week ago, and are now looking at DK Metcalf, Roman Wilson, and Calvin Austin as their top options in three receiver sets. Of those three, Metcalf is the only receiver with notable NFL success, while Wilson effectively redshirted his rookie season due to injuries. Olave caught 32 passes for 400 yards and one touchdown for the Saints last season, but missed nine games due to multiple concussions he suffered. The four-year receiver posted back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons during his first two years in the league, and would provide an immediate upgrade to an underwhelming Steelers receiving corps. Farabaugh reports that in addition to a trade being unlikely, that the Saints do “not seem interested in trading Olave” at this time. The Saints picked up Olave’s fifth-year option last month, and will likely look to extend him in the not too distant future.