The Houston Texans will face off against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first of a Week 2 “Monday Night Football” double-header, and current starting running back Nick Chubb is ready to hit the gridiron.
Chubb joined the Texans in free agency, signing a one-year, $2.5 million contract this past offseason after seven seasons with the Cleveland Browns.
It was supposed to be in a reserve role, but the situation has changed.
Nick Chubb Drops Batman Post Before Texans Face Buccaneers on ‘Monday Night Football’
GettyNick Chubb #21 of the Houston Texans carries the ball against the Los Angeles Rams.
Chubb was supposed to be the Texans’ RB2 behind two-time Pro Bowler Joe Mixon. However, a foot injury has Mixon on the Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list.
Mixon remains without a concrete timeline for his return. That has the Texans leaning on the four-time Pro Bowler, Chubb, who logged 13 carries for 60 yards in the regular-season opener against the Los Angeles Rams. It appears Chubb is ready to shoulder the load again in Week 2.
He posted an image of a brooding titular figure from “Batman: The Animated Series.”
Chubb, who has embraced the persona since his Browns days, said before the opener that he was ready to do whatever was asked of him.
Before that, he assured that he had overcome the injury issues that plagued him during the 2023 and 2024 seasons. So far, so good for the 29-year-old back, Chubb, and the Texans, who are pleased with what they have seen so far.
Coaches Rave About Nick Chubb
GettyNick Chubb #21 of the Houston Texans runs with the ball against the Los Angeles Rams.
Chubb has reason to be bullish about his potential role on “Monday Night Football,” with Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans saying they want to “lean ” on the former No. 35 overall pick (2018).
“I think Chubb ran the ball really well. We tried to mix it up with the backs. Got Woody [Marks] some touches, Dameon [Pierce]. We’re going to try to lean in with Chubb a little bit more. I think he deserves it. He’s shown that. He continued to get better as the game went on. You saw him running stronger, finishing plays in a physical manner,” Ryans said on “Texans All-Access” on September 9.
“We got to get him going a little bit more, right? And I think he can he can really help us.”
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Ryans is not alone in his high regard for Chubb. Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles expressed his appreciation for the veteran, too.
“He’s tough. Anytime you face him, he’s going to be tough. He’s hard to bring down. He has very good eyes. He’s not just a tough runner. He can see, he understands, he sets his blocks up, and he’s a football player. He’s an old-school football player. So, that’s always tough,” Bowles told reporters on September 11..
“He has [come back from a serious injury], and he’s playing like it.”
Nick Chubb Faces Stiff Test vs Buccaneers
GettyVita Vea #50 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers reacts against the Atlanta Falcons.
Chubb and the Texans could face tough sledding in Week 2, as they face a Buccaneers defense that ranked fourth against the run in 2024 and allowed 69 team rushing yards to the Atlanta Falcons in Week 1.
For comparison, the Falcons racked up 218 rushing yards against a Minnesota Vikings defense that led the league in run-stopping last season on “Sunday Night Football.”
The Rams ranked 22nd against the run in 2024. They gave up 114 yards to the Texans in Week 1.
Chubb and his fellow Texans backs will need to continue running with physicality, and offensive coordinator Nick Caley must stick with the run so that they can build momentum. That also requires C.J. Stroud and the passing game, and the Texans’ defense, to do their jobs.
Texans RB Nick Chubb Sets Tone Before ‘Monday Night Football’ vs Buccaneers