After four seasons, linebacker Bradley Chubb’s good and bad career could be halved.
The No. 5 pick overall came out of the way in 2018, as he racked up 12 bags, two forced fuss and 60 combined interventions — all of which remain career highs. 2020 was another great year in which Chubb made his only Pro Bowl gesture, but the LB left-back missed big swathes of 2019 and 2021 with an ACL tear and an ankle injury, respectively. Chubb managed one sack in four games in 2019. He was knocked out in seven competitions after returning from surgery last year.
Speaking at CHEP’s soccer camp on Saturday, the racer, who is in good health as 2022 approaches, sounded optimistic about adding another season to the good column.
“Yes sir. I definitely feel it,” said Chubb when asked if he felt like he would come back again, Troy Rink from Denver 7. “It was one of those things I’ve been through a lot, you know what I mean? The dam has to break at some point. I feel like things are piling up and piling up, and it’s finally time to let it all go.”
Chubb will have the duty to unleash a throwback season in a contract year, but the linebacker’s eyes are also focused on the Broncos as a whole.
“We have a chance to be special with the players who are back,” Chubb said. “And the new people we’ve added.”
One of the new people who will work directly with Chubb is Randy Gregory, who seemed poised to re-sign with the Dallas Cowboys on free agency before turning down his old club in a five-year, $70 million deal with Denver.
Just like Chubb, Gregory has demonstrated an uncanny dominance of the game on the pitch despite the availability issue. However, Gregory’s extended absences have been linked to multiple suspensions for violating the league’s drug policy rather than an injury.
If both teammates can continue to put those speed bumps into the rear view, the Broncos defense has the ability to keep up with the attack, which will lead them The New guy, quarterback Russell Wilson.
Wilson is a nine-time Super Bowl champion and a Pro Bowler. He brings tantalizing potential to a team that has been even just an average QB away from the championship competition for more than half a decade. Add in the appointment of new coach Nathaniel Hackett, and chebb can expect a revival in 2022 apart from personal diversity.
“Coach Hackett comes to the meetings with energy and juice.” Chubb said. “And with Ross – the complete guy that he is, the complete player – you see that every day he comes into the building. It’s a great example of what you should be doing. It was fun having these two guys come in and change everything, and hopefully that finally gets us over the hump that We haven’t been able to get past it over the past few years.”
If overcoming that hump is to include the Broncos edging out the AFC West challenge on their first post-season berth since 2015, Chubb will likely need to prove his worth about getting back into shape.
