Browns' Nick Chubb addresses touchdown drought with Deshaun Watson as QB

Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb isn't worried about finding the end zone with Deshaun Watson atop the depth chart as the club's full-time starting quarterback. 

"You can't really look at the numbers," Chubb explained, per Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal. "Twelve is the most I’ve ever had since I’ve been here. I don't think it had much to do with it. I think we did have to figure some things out, get the kinks out on offense and I don't think I'm hindered by Deshaun at all." 

According to ESPN stats, Chubb finished this past regular season third among all players with 1,525 rushing yards and tied for fifth with 12 touchdowns on the ground that he scored across the team's first 11 games when Jacoby Brissett started at quarterback as Watson served a suspension related to allegations of sexual misconduct during massage sessions. With Watson in the lineup, Chubb tallied only a single receiving score. 

The Browns acquired Watson from the Houston Texans in March 2022 and then signed him to a fully guaranteed five-year, $230M contract. While it's understandable Cleveland expects Watson to play at an elite level on that deal, running backs coach Stump Mitchell indicated the Browns will ideally look to Chubb to ice games away during third and fourth quarters. 

"Well, Nick hasn’t averaged 20 carries any single year in his career," Mitchell remarked. "If anything, they may increase. Hopefully, we'll be a lot more successful in the passing game and we'll be running the ball more in the third or fourth quarter." 

Chubb finished last season third among all players with 302 total carries.

A four-time Pro Bowl selection, Chubb was the subject of trade rumors throughout the winter and spring as teams continue to devalue veteran running backs and the position, in general. The 27-year-old sounds unbothered about his role in the Cleveland offense for at least 2023. 

"No, I'm not worried at all," he insisted. "I can't control what I can’t control. When the ball is in my hand, I have full control, so I'm not worried about anything."