Although the Week 13 primetime game between the Denver Broncos and Cleveland Browns started off fairly well, the Browns confused fans watching from home and trying to figure out why Nick Chubb was ejected from the game after a few carries in the first Quarter.

That was a legitimate question and concern – Chubb, who is coming back from major knee surgery, is doing better every week. He only managed six carries for 11 yards in the first, but again, the reps are big for him right now. So what is there? Why did Jerome Ford see all the action in the first half?

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Well, head coach Kevin Stefanski revealed to Lisa Salters after the first half that Chubb was completely fine. No injury to report. Instead, from Stefanski’s response, it simply seemed like Chubb’s lack of carries was part of Cleveland’s game plan to get Ford more involved and give him more attention with the ball.

Chubb is once again returning from major knee reconstruction surgery. For a running back of his caliber, this is no joke. But Chubb has also been very lackluster since returning to action, averaging three yards per carry. That stat compared to 2022, when Chubb averaged 5.1 yards per carry and 1,525 total rushing yards, is staggering.

It makes sense that Stefanski and Dorsey would try to give him some rest and mentor Ford a bit after he was a really solid replacement for Chubb earlier in the season. Ford has lost some touches since Chubb’s return, but in the first half of the team’s Week 13 game against the Broncos, he hauled in six carries for 39 yards and averaged 6.5 yards per carry. That’s nothing to scoff at, and apparently Cleveland’s coaching staff agrees.

However, this by no means means the end of this season for Chubb. Chubb will get a chance to continue to hit All-Pro form, but perhaps not against a defense as elite as the one the Browns faced in Week 13. Looking ahead, however, Chubb will have to really step up his game if he wants to help lead this Cleveland team to another miraculous finish. Luckily, Week 13 will be the Browns’ final game against the Broncos of the regular season, so there’s sure to be more wiggle room.