The Browns hope to restore their offensive identity with the return of RB Nick Chubb

PHILADELPHIA – As Cleveland Browns players filed out of the visitors’ locker room at Lincoln Financial Field, running back Nick Chubb sat slumped in a locker, scrolling through his phone.

About 30 minutes later, defensive end Myles Garrett talked about the possibility of soon reintroducing a player often considered the Browns’ “heart and soul” to a team that hasn’t shown much life recently.

“The day is darkest before dawn. And hopefully we have a great day next week,” Garrett said after Cleveland’s 20-16 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. “He will help turn things around and we will continue to find ways to win. At the moment we are very close. We have to find a way to finish these games. We’re putting ourselves in the right position.” We just have to take the next step.

The next step in a disappointing season in which the Browns (1-5) have lost four straight games and their offense has failed to get going could be welcoming Chubb back to the field when Cleveland hosts Cincinnati on Sunday Bengals receives. Coach Kevin Stefanski said Monday that Chubb, who has been practicing for the past two weeks after returning from knee surgery, is staying day-to-day. However, a source told ESPN that Chubb is expected to make his season debut in Week 7.

The Browns offense faces even more questions after trading wide receiver Amari Cooper to the Buffalo Bills on Tuesday. But with Chubb, who was the engine of Cleveland’s offense before suffering a season-ending knee injury last September, the Browns were able to find their faltering unit.

Despite suffering a loss, Cleveland was successful on the ground against the Eagles. The Browns rushed for 100 yards for the third time this season and averaged 4 yards per carry. Several players said after the game that running the ball, particularly the under-center runs that Stefanski had success with, was a focus in preparing for Philadelphia. And the Browns were able to run the ball despite another injury on the offensive line, as center Nick Harris, filling in for the injured Ethan Pocic, suffered a broken fibula on the first drive.

“It helped a lot,” quarterback Deshaun Watson said of the ground game’s success. “That’s what we have to do with the offense. We have to be balanced. We have to make sure they play honestly to the way the game is going. And you can see in the second half there was some kind of playmaking, different things like that. “And then it also opened up the checkdowns and didn’t necessarily put as much stress on the O-line.”

Through six games, the Browns’ running backs averaged 4.3 yards per carry and 1.78 yards after contact per rush, which ranked 16th and 19th, respectively.

The Browns have not yet revealed their plans for Chubb’s workload upon his return, but his presence could be something of an elixir for an offense that has yet to reach 300 total yards this season and continues to search for answers. Coaches and players have praised Chubb’s form in practice as he helped out on the scout team and began receiving more reps in the starting offense.

Weeks ago, Watson said the team wasn’t waiting for Chubb to come back and save the offense. And at 1-5, the Browns’ problems are complex and extend beyond the return of Chubb, a four-time Pro Bowl player.

The Browns still have to figure out how to establish a viable passing game, now without their best pass catcher. They need to find ways to make it easier for Watson as he has regressed in a widespread approach that should highlight his talents. And Cleveland needs to avoid the penalties that eat into its already low margin of error on offense.

Watson has struggled miserably since his debut in Cleveland. He has recorded the lowest QBR of any qualified passer this season. But his completion percentage and yards per dropback are both higher when Chubb is on the field than when he is off the field.

With Chubb expected to return soon, he could help stabilize a unit that is still trying to find itself a third of the way through the season.

“We’re not playing well enough to overcome this.” [penalties]said left-back Joel Bitonio. “So we’ve got to find a way to make that happen. “But I think we were a little better at running the ball this week.”