The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Chubb, Hunt are out again
Running game coordinator Stump Mitchell was a lonely man during Browns practice Oct. 14 in Berea.
Nick Chubb (calf) and Kareem Hunt (wrist, knee) were unable to practice for the second straight day, leaving D’Ernest Johnson and practice squad player John Kelly as the only two running backs going through drills coached by Mitchell as the Browns continued their preparation for their game against Arizona at 4:05 p.m. Oct. 17 at FirstEnergy Stadium.
Hunt worked on the exercise bike during the portion of practice open to the media, but Chubb was not seen on the field. Nor was center JC Tretter.
Chubb and Hunt have combined for 144 carries, 818 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns through five games. Hunt
has a team high 17 catches for 149 yards.
Left tackle Jedrick Wills (ankle) was limited in practice Oct. 13, but did not practice Oct. 14. Instead, he worked on the side with trainers. Right tackle Jack Conklin (knee) missed his second straight practice and worked on the side with trainers. Conklin was injured in the game with the
Chargers on Oct. 10.
“Hopefully we can get (Wills and Conklin) out later in the week,” offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt said. “If not, it’s nextman-up mentality for us. Blake (Hance, left tackle), I was really proud of him last week. He did a really nice job. James (Hudson) came in late and played well for us (at right tackle).
“If Jed’s back, that’s a bonus. If Jack’s back, that’s a bonus, but if not, I feel really good about our guys.”
Wills was injured in the season opener in Kansas City. He played hurt the next three games and missed all or part of each one. He was rested against the Chargers.
Tight end David Njoku (knee), defensive ends Myles Garrett (knee, ankle) and Jadeveon Clowney (elbow, knee) plus defensive end Takkarist McKinley (ankle, knee) were limited Oct. 14 after not practicing a day earlier.
The Browns host the Broncos on Oct. 21 — just four days after hosting the Cardinals. The Oct. 15 practice session might shed light on whether holding Chubb and Hunt out of practice, along with Conklin, Wills and Tretter, is a way of lightening their practice load with an eye toward the Denver game.