PITTSBURGH – T.J. Watt returned a fumble 17 yards for the go-ahead touchdown midway through the fourth quarter as the Steelers edged the Browns 26-22, the Browns’ 20th straight regular-season defeat in Pittsburgh.
A more serious loss may be that of star running back Nick Chubb, who was carted off the field with a serious left knee injury. Coach Kevin Stefanki expects him to be out for the remainder of the season.
The 27-year-old four-time Pro Bowler has been one of the constants for a franchise trying to establish itself as a perennial contender. His sixth season in the NFL ended on the second play of the second quarter when Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick came in low for a tackle at the end of a 5-yard run early in the second quarter and delivered a hit to Chubb’s legs. Chubb’s knee buckled underneath him.
Chubb remained on the ground for several minutes while teammates gathered in prayer nearby. He eventually left on a cart and was taken to a local hospital as a precautionary measure but was on his way back to Cleveland by the time the Browns were packing up after a 20th straight regular-season loss in Pittsburgh.
Coach Kevin Stefanki did not have the specifics on the extent of Chubb’s injury but expects him to be out for the remainder of the season.
“We feel, obviously, for Nick,” Stefanski said. “But I know Nick and his teammates know, and you have to move on.”
Chubb has been here before.
He missed the second half of his sophomore year after getting hurt against Tennessee but returned to top 1,000 yards rushing in both 2016 and 2017. He was a second-round pick by the Browns in 2018 and has averaged over 1,250 yards rushing a season during his career.
Steelers defense comes up big
While their offense continues to struggle, the Steelers’ defense was their saving grace Monday night.
Alex Highsmith returned a tipped DeShaun Watson pass 30 yards for a touchdown on the first snap. The Steelers outside linebacker later stripped Watson midway through the fourth quarter. Teammate T.J. Watt picked it up and raced 17 yards for the go-ahead touchdown, denying Cleveland’s bid to win at Pittsburgh in the regular season for the first time since 2003.
“The penalties … the turnovers, it’s just hard to win on the road, period,” Stefanski said. “It’s real hard to win on the road if you make it hard for yourself.”
Cleveland fell to 1-1 with four months to go in the season and little time to recover from the loss of Chubb as Tennessee visits next Sunday.