Chargers Browns Week 9 Game Preview

4. Bolt’s defense ready for Chubb

The Bolts are well aware that Nick Chubb is starting to look like his old self.

The Browns running back suffered a serious knee injury in Week 2 of the 2023 season, including a torn ACL.

Chubb made his return in Week 7 and has the Bolts defense on high alert, especially when it comes to tackling.

“One of the best running backs in this league,” Derwin James Jr. said. “He’s been in this league every year. We just have to be ready and everyone has to be there to take him on.”

Chubb averaged over 1,000 rushing yards per season in his first five years in the league.

And the Chargers remember his performance the last time the teams met, when he ran for 134 yards and two scores on just 17 carries.

Minter has also seen Chubb up close from his time with the Ravens and knows firsthand how important stopping the run will be.

“The boys are definitely committed to that and know it’s a great challenge,” Minter said. “I certainly have a lot of respect for him.

“I’ve seen him a few times and been burned a few times,” Minter added. “Great player and glad he’s healthy again and he’s overcome that.”

The Bolts have shown rock-solid defense this season under Minter, as they currently lead the NFL in EPA per rush allowed at -0.251.

5. Dicker celebrates milestone

Week 9 will be a milestone of sorts for Cameron Dicker.

When Sunday rolls around, it will have been two years since (November 3) that the Chargers originally signed the kicker to their practice squad.

“That’s cool, I didn’t know that,” Dicker said.

Dicker of course has flourished since I started wearing the powder blue.

He made 67 of 71 field goals (94.5 percent) for the Bolts, including 11 from those over 50. That includes a 59-yarder earlier in the season that tied a franchise record.

Dicker said this week that he couldn’t imagine himself anywhere else.

“It’s a cool opportunity for everyone here,” Dicker said. “I love that Jim is here to get everyone going and then have a team that takes everything on board.

“And just the guys here are great,” Dicker added. “It’s a place I want to be. If I could be here for the rest of my career, I would be.”

Dicker was signed to the Bolts practice squad due to injury.

Dustin Hopkins was injured, which led to the Chargers then adding Taylor Bertolet, who actually kicked against the Browns in Cleveland in Week 5 of the 2022 season.

But Bertolet was subsequently injured when Dicker was deployed. The rest is history as Dicker was great in 2022 and ultimately won a close battle against Hopkins in 2023 training camp.

The Chargers later traded Hopkins to Cleveland, where he made 46 of 52 field goals over the past two seasons.

“I love Dustin and it will be really cool to see him and talk to him before the game,” Dicker said. “He helped me a lot when he was here. It’s nice to see him doing so well.”