Out since Week 1, Chris Hubbard is unlikely to return to action this season. The veteran Browns backup is slated to undergo surgery to repair a triceps issue, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
This operation is expected to sideline Hubbard for the remainder of Cleveland’s season. Hubbard has been with the Browns for four years and has settled into a second-string swing role, so the team’s depth will take a hit because of this news.
Hubbard replaced left tackle Jedrick Wills after his injury against the Chiefs in Week 1, but the Browns have used other backups — mainly fourth-round rookie James Hudson — behind Wills since.
The Browns initially brought Hubbard in to be a starter, signing him during John Dorsey‘s initial months as GM. The former Steelers swing man-turned-starter landed a nice contract during the 2018 offseason (five years, $37.5MM) but did not fare especially well as the Browns’ first-string right tackle. Cleveland used Hubbard as a 19-game starter from 2018-19 but gave Jack Conklin a $14MM-per-year deal to replace him in 2020. The Browns, however, reworked Hubbard’s deal last year and kept him around to back up its higher-end tackle investments.
This injury could end the 30-year-old blocker’s Cleveland stay. Hubbard’s contract expires at season’s end.
While he’s not that great as a full time player, he was easily one of the best swing tackles or back up OL in the NFL over the course of his career. Can play guard and tackle. He will definitely get a job next offseason
Injuries are piling up
This comes at a bad time since Wills is having a tough time with his own injury