Chubb: ‘I’m doing everything I used to do’

Early in the offseason, Nick Chubb sat in front of a television camera and made a proclamation to those who eventually would watch the ESPN special on the northwest Georgia city of Chubbtown his ancestors founded.

“We’re going to be back in Atlanta, and I’m going to be ready for the opening game,” Chubb said.

The nearly seven-minute feature aired in February, which was a long six months ago. Time has passed, with Georgia’s season opener against North Carolina only one month away. As Chubb runs, cuts, blocks and thuds in practice, the more likely it would seem it is that he’ll be ready to go.

But Chubb isn’t guaranteed a Week 1 return just yet. The reality is that he has to ensure his knee holds up throughout the entire month of August before he can get back on the football field. He admitted as much, even with a smirk, that maybe he spoke too soon during the ESPN special.

“I was just in good spirits that day,” Chubb said before breaking out in a laugh. “I was at home around my family. I wasn’t even running. It just came out of me.”

At the same time, Chubb wasn’t going to tip his hand as to whether he’ll be back for the start of the season. He did indicate his recovery has gone well, saying he felt “good about where I’m at.”

Chubb spoke to a group of reporters at around 8 p.m. on Wednesday, electing to stand instead of sitting down on the designated bench in front of a Georgia backdrop. His presence was unexpected — it was not announced he’d be meeting with the media, although he was told Monday that he’d be speaking. Typically, teams don’t send injured players up for interviews.

Chubb is different.

He returned to the field for running and cutting sooner than expected. A video — one he wished didn’t leak to Twitter — surfaced of him sprinting on a treadmill. Receiver Isaiah McKenzie said Chubb has squatted more than 500 pounds and that he “looked like he never got hurt.”

Chubb has been in a red jersey for the first three days of preseason practice, which included some thud work in which he was wrapped up some. Throughout the rehab process, Chubb kicked dummies and took part in taekwondo so his knee could absorb contact.

“I didn’t think I’d be able to squat as much as I once was or run like I once was,” Chubb said. “But I’m doing everything I used to do.”

Chubb said he was unsure if he’d be able to participate in the first preseason scrimmage, although being tackled is the next step to see whether his knee can withstand the rigors of the sport.

Before his injury, a torn LCL, MCL, PCL and damaged cartilage, he was a top two national running back alongside LSU’s Leonard Fournette. As a freshman, Chubb ran for a staggering 1,547 yards and 14 touchdowns, all while not starting in the first five games of the season. He’s a Heisman Trophy contender again this year, even with his status uncertain at the start of the season.

Chubb’s injury against Tennessee was gruesome, one in which his left knee bent the opposite way it was supposed to.

McKenzie said he has seen a replay of the injury. Right tackle Greg Pyke said he hasn’t. They both know how severe it was, which makes the progress Chubb has shown impressive.

“I’ve seen him in the training room and the weight room and it doesn’t look like he’s lost a step,” Pyke said. “I don’t know what he’s going to be doing playing-wise — that’s up to (head coach Kirby) Smart, (director of sports medicine) Ron (Courson) and the medical staff — but I know he’s been out there on the field with us. He looks amazing. It’s good to have him out there.”

All signs would point toward Chubb being ready to play against North Carolina barring a setback. But Chubb wasn’t going to entertain the idea.

Asked in many different ways about his outlook for the opener, he gave the same response — he doesn’t know. He knew what folks wanted to hear, that he’ll be back and ready to run against the Tar Heels.

A month from the first game of the season, he’s not ready this time to make that proclamation.

“No idea,” he said. “I won’t know until I get back out there.”

This story was originally published August 3, 2016 at 9:24 PM with the headline "Chubb: ‘I’m doing everything I used to do’."