This won't be just any old game in Pittsburgh for Nick Chubb on Thursday night, but he's treating it as such.
Four hundred 30 days after ripping his knee to shreds in a prime-time game against the host Pittsburgh Steelers, the Cleveland Browns running back will be back at Acrisure Stadium on Thursday night.
For the quiet and undemonstrative Chubb, there is no added incentive or reason for spotlight, it's just the fifth game of his 2024 season and the 82nd of his career.
"It's just the same normal game for me, pushing the same way," Chubb told reporters Tuesday. "Looking forward to going out there and playing against a great team."
The approach leading up to the game has been unsurprising for Chubb's longtime teammate, Myles Garrett. Perhaps it will change at kickoff, but so far, Chubb has been his usual stoic self.
"He keeps that same calm and solemn demeanor," Garrett said. "When he gets out there, it could be different, but right now he's cool as a cucumber, as he always is."
Chubb was off to a roaring start when last he took the field in Pittsburgh, rushing for 64 yards on 10 carries when he was hit by Minkah Fitzpatrick and not long after was being carted off the field. He needed surgery to repair his MCL, meniscus and ACL.
The 28-year-old Chubb has made it clear in the past he holds no ill will for Fitzpatrick and didn't view the hit as dirty. He's never heard from the Steelers safety, though.
"Talked to him on the field when it happened, that's about it," Chubb said.
Making Chubb's injury all the more troubling was that he previously tore his MCL, PCL and LCL prior to his NFL arrival. Just how difficult the journey back to playing has been isn't lost on Garrett.
"It's amazing to see him out here in general," Garrett said. "The guy is coming back from not one, but two.
"The guy is one of the most athletic people on the field every time he steps on. And to get back to even 99% of that, 95% of that takes a whole hell of a lot of work. And he did everything that he can to put himself in position to make some huge plays for us and be that cornerstone as he always has been. So, a massive amount of respect for him."
A long road back to the field saw Chubb make his 2024 season debut in Week 7 against the Cincinnati Bengals.
He scored a touchdown in his return, but for the most part, he's struggled in comparison to past stellar seasons.
Through four games, Chubb has rushed for 163 yards on 53 carries for a career-low average of 3.1 yards per carry and the aforementioned TD.
It's hardly surprising, as players rarely bounce back to form immediately following knee surgery and he's playing on a Browns squad that's mired in a 2-8 campaign.
The four-time Pro Bowler has seen steady improvement, though, and is challenging himself on a week-by-week basis.
"Since I've been here, I've always prided myself in going out there and no matter the circumstance, having a good game," Chubb said. "So just getting in my mind, my body ready for that. Just go out there and no matter what's happening, doing something for my team."
Thursday will mark Chubb's 11th game against the Steelers. He's rushed for more than 100 yards just twice, and scored his only two touchdowns against Pittsburgh in those games. Cleveland won both, but neither was at Acrisure.
He'll look to change all that on Thursday, when the football world will make a big to-do about his return to the scene of his season-ending knee injury, but he'll carry on as usual.
"Yeah, that's just who I am," Chubb said. "I mean it's a football game. I got to go out there and play, so no matter who we're playing or what we're up against, I'm always in the same mindset."
He did seem excited about one aspect of the forecast, though. It's expected to be in the 30s with chances of snow showers on Thursday night in Pittsburgh. That's good weather for the ground game.
"It should always be running weather," Chubb grinned.
No matter if it's rain or sleet or snow or the return to the scene of a gruesome injury, Chubb always plans to deliver on the ground. And he always plans on facing the same Steelers.
"It's gonna be a physical battle every year," Chubb said.
