Chubb, Barkley injuries threaten running back contract disputes
Running backs around the NFL would have breathed a sigh of relief after the 49ers v Giants matchup on Thursday saw a beginning to week three of the NFL season.
The second week of the campaign had been a nightmarish experience for rushers. In particular, Saquon Barkley, Nick Chubb and Josh Jacobs – albeit for different reasons.
But week two has not only been disastrous for these running backs individually, but could have much greater repercussions on the position as a whole.
What happened in Week Two?
Saquon Barkley missed the Thursday night matchup, which his team lost 30-12, having suffered a high ankle sprain against Arizona. A game which New York won, and Barkley contributed 63 yards and a touchdown.
Meanwhile, Nick Chubb suffered a gruesome knee injury against the Steelers, tearing his MCL and ending his entire season.
Barkley and Chubb join a lengthy list of injured running backs, consisting of Austin Ekeler, JK Dobbins, Jonathan Taylor, Aaron Jones and David Montgomery after only two games.
As for Jacobs, while he physically did not take any damage, future contract negotiations may well have.
The Las Vegas Raiders running back became the first reigning leading rusher since 1970 to record negative yards in a game, as he totalled -2 yards on nine touches versus the Buffalo Bills.
Coincidentally, this noticeable increase in injuries occurred during the same week that the NFL filed a grievance against the NFLPA, claiming leaders of the players’ association had advised running backs to feign or exaggerate injuries.
This was also reported to be a key talking point during the offseason running backs meeting, hosted by Chargers’ Ekeler, and attended by many of the league’s best – including Christian McCaffrey, Jacobs, Chubb, Barkley and Derrick Henry.
Market significance
Week two’s happenings once illuminated once more a conversation which has plagued the NFL in recent months – running back pay.
Several rushers around the NFL made clear during the offseason that they would be demanding more guaranteed money.
Both Barkley and Jacobs were among the players who held out for more suitable contracts, though neither ended up receiving a long-term deal, nor the desired cash.
Jacobs signed a 1-year deal with Vegas worth $10 million, while Barkley also agreed to a single year contract worth up to $11 million.
Their justification for setting such terms is understandable – running backs receive a hefty portion of the snaps, and an even heftier number of hits. Guaranteed years and money are purely insurance, and the injuries to Barkley and Chubb justify it further.
Owners and GM’s, however, believe the position to be replaceable, and running backs less valuable as a result. The swift signing of Kareem Hunt to the Browns roster in lieu of Chubb’s injury demonstrates just this.
The injury liability is also in itself a massive red flag to owners – in Chubb’s case, he suffered a three-ligament tear and cartilage damage in the same knee back in 2015, while still a collegiate athlete.
Thirdly, Jacobs’ performance also feeds the narrative of underpaying running backs and splashing out on offensive linemen. After all, despite Jacobs being one of the most dominant rushers, having led the NFL in forced missed tackles in 2022, he was still unable to overcome his teams porous run blocking scheme.
The outcome
After the chaos of week two, running backs can be expected to pursue more lavish deals when negotiations begin again later this season – and rightly so, with injury fears mounting. Owners can equally be expected to make more of
The future of Chubb’s career, or the way in which these now running back deficient teams will adapt and overcome injury issues, are difficult to predict.
But it can be considered a sure thing that the events of week two will be hugely significant to the economics of pro football.
