BEREA — The full extent of Nick Chubb's knee injury required surgery in order to reveal what it was for the Browns star running back. While it confirmed initial reports, it also indicated that he will require a second surgery to repair the anterior cruciate ligament.

Chubb underwent the surgery on his left knee Friday at the University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, with Browns team physician Dr. James Voos handling the operation. According to the Browns, the surgery repaired damage to the medial collateral ligament (MCL), which initial tests had revealed, as well as the medial capsule and meniscus.

The team announced a second surgery will be scheduled to repair his ACL in the coming months. Chubb had not previously torn that ligament when he sustained an injury on the same knee while at the University of Georgia.

The Browns would not give an exact timeline on recovery. However, they did say estimated timelines "indicate that Nick would be able to return to play at some point in the 2024 season."

The injury occurred with 14:14 remaining in the second quarter of the Browns' Sept. 18 loss at the Pittsburgh Steelers. Chubb had his left knee rolled into by Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick while his leg was still planted at the end of a 5-yard run.

The Browns have attempted to replace the three-time Pro Bowl selection with the trio of Jerome Ford, Pierre Strong Jr. and Kareem Hunt, who was signed two days after Chubb's injury. Those three combined for 58 net yards on 21 carries in last Sunday's win over the Tennessee Titans, with Ford scoring both a rushing and a receiving touchdown.

Ford ran for 106 yards on 16 carries against the Steelers, all but one of those carries after Chubb left the game. He also caught a 3-yard touchdown pass on the play immediately after the injury.

Chubb suffered three torn ligaments in the same knee while at Georgia during an Oct. 10, 2015, game against the University of Tennessee. The ACL remained intact, but Chubb still needed surgery on the other three ligaments. He didn't miss a game in the 2016 or 2017 seasons before the Browns selected him in the second round (No. 35 overall) in the 2018 draft.

Chubb is coming off a career year last year, rushing for 1,525 yards and 12 touchdowns on a career-high 302 attempts. He had rushed for 170 yards on 28 carries in just over five quarters this season.

The Browns signed Chubb to a four-year extension in 2021 that boasts the fourth-highest annual value for a running back at $12.2 million. However, the last of the $5 million in guaranteed money was going to be up at the end of this season.

Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on Twitter at @ceasterlingABJ

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Nick Chubb to require second surgery to repair ACL in left knee