Texans RB Nick Chubb puts himself on Derrick Henry’s level with bold comparison to Ravens star

Nick Chubb joined the Houston Texans this year amid questions about his health. However, the running back remains confident, even making a bold comparison between himself and Baltimore Ravens star Derrick Henry.

A few years ago, the Cleveland Browns had one of the NFL’s best running backs in Nick Chubb. Despite the team’s struggles, he posted elite numbers and delivered standout performances that impressed everyone.

Everything changed in 2023, when Chubb suffered a devastating knee injury. Since then, he hasn’t been able to return to peak form, but he believes his move to Houston will be the turning point.

Nick Chubb makes bold comparison to Derrick Henry

In the NFL, running backs rarely stay at the top for many years. Their position makes them highly susceptible to injuries, and only a few can avoid them long enough to maintain elite status.

For Chubb, avoiding that fate proved impossible. A torn ACL and MCL in 2023 derailed his career trajectory, keeping him from regaining the dominance he once displayed.

Derrick Henry’s career has taken the opposite path. Thanks to his unique build and durability, the Ravens star has stayed healthy and productive, performing at a high level in nearly every season he has played.

That’s why comparing Chubb to Henry might seem unusual to some—just not to Chubb himself. According to the new Texans RB, who turns 30 this year, he belongs in the same conversation as Henry among the league’s top backs over 30.

“[Henry] is different,” Chubb told ESPN’s Bien-Aime. “You are not gonna put him in that category, he showed it’s not true. And I think that applies for me. I’m in the category with them. I’m different, and I feel good as I have been.”

Can Nick Chubb become the Texans’ RB1?

Despite his recent injuries, Chubb’s self-belief hasn’t wavered. His opportunity to prove it may come sooner than expected.

Texans starter Joe Mixon is dealing with an injury that will sideline him for the start of the 2025 season. Chubb is set to step in, and if he performs like the player he was in Cleveland, Mixon’s role could be in jeopardy.