Broncos' Chubb out

Denver Broncos Pro Bowl linebacker Bradley Chubb needs surgery to remove bone spurs from his left ankle just four months after undergoing a similar surgery on his right ankle. 

Chubb said in a video posted on the team's website Tuesday that with the Broncos (2-0) in the midst of a resurgence, he's going to work hard to get back this season.

“When this thing is healed up I expect to see a whole new Bradley Chubb, a whole new animal, a whole new dog,” Chubb said. “I feel like 2018 was my last full year healthy and I feel like when I’m done with this it’s going to be 10 times that and really excited just to see everything that comes full circle.”

Chubb left Denver's 23-13 win at Jacksonville in the first half Sunday after feeling a stabbing pain in his left ankle while trying to get to Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence.

“It was during that 2-minute drive I just tried to run the corner and I felt it wasn't all the way there,” Chubb said. “I’ve been dealing with this bone spur I’ve got in my ankle and sometimes when I try to turn the corner it gets a little annoying and it feels like a stab-type pain.”

Chubb missed the opener against the New York Giants because of the injury. He and Von Miller have played 21 games together out of a possible 50 since John Elway selected him with the fifth overall pick in the 2018 draft.

Chubb came back from a torn ACL in 2019 to earn his first Pro Bowl berth last season, but he missed the final two games with a right ankle injury. In May he underwent surgery to remove bone spurs and missed most of the offseason program.

The other ankle began bothering him last month and he missed the opener.

“I did everything I could to manage it and try to come back and play," Chubb said. "I took the New York week off trying to calm it down just a little bit and then this Jacksonville week I tried to do everything to get back on the field and unfortunately all those things weren't working in my favor.

“So, the thing is now just to go in and clean it up and be right back."

Chubb's start Sunday marked his first game alongside pass rush partner Miller since Sept. 29, 2019. But he started to limp off after a play in the second quarter before going to his hands and knees and punching the ground as trainers went out to escort him to the sideline. He was replaced by Malik Reed and didn't return.

"I was frustrated on the sideline, throwing my hands down, throwing my helmet down just because I know that this team is a special team,” Chubb said.

“These past couple of years haven’t been going our way in the win column and I feel like we’re starting to change that, we’re starting to get over that hump and not being able to be there is going to be very frustrating."

Chubb will miss significant time.

“But I’m going to push everything I can to try to get back to these games and hopefully it’s sooner rather than later and my mindset is going to be just to attack it 100 percent every day,” he said.

Chubb is the fifth starter the Broncos have lost to injury this season. Inside linebacker Josey Jewell tore a pectoral muscle playing special teams Sunday, a week after Denver lost cornerback Ronald Darby (hamstring), right guard Graham Glasgow (irregular heartbeat) and wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (ankle).

Manning numbers are up

The "Monday Night Football" presentation with Peyton and Eli Manning increased its viewership by 138% over last week's debut, becoming the most-watched alternate telecast in ESPN history.

ESPN and Nielsen reported that the Mannings' freewheeling telecast of the Green Bay Packers' 35-17 victory over the Detroit Lions on ESPN2 averaged 1.9 million viewers. The Week 1 overtime thriller between the Baltimore Ravens and Las Vegas Raiders averaged 800,000.

The previous high for an ESPN alternate presentation was 1.03 million for the January 2018 College Football Playoff championship game between Alabama and Georgia on ESPN2.

Monday night's game had an overall average of 13.81 million across ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN Deportes.

The Mannings are scheduled to do eight more Monday night games this season, including next week's contest between the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys. The remaining seven have not been determined.

NFL viewership is up 14% over the first two weeks last year, according to the league and Nielsen. The 17.7 million average viewership is the highest since 2016.

The Dallas Cowboys' victory over the Los Angeles Rams on CBS late Sunday afternoon averaged 24.29 million, making it the most-watched program on television for the week.

The NBC "Sunday Night Football" game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens averaged 20.8 million on TV and online.

Browns put Landry on IR

For the first time in his NFL career, Browns wide receiver Jarvis Landry will miss a game because of an injury.

And not just one.

Landry was placed on injured reserve Tuesday with a sprained knee ligament, meaning he must sit out a minimum of three games before he can be activated. At this point, it's not clear when the five-time Pro Bowler will be back.

A model of consistency and durability as a pro, Landry got hurt after catching a short pass and picking up 9 yards on the second play from scrimmage in Sunday's 31-21 win over the Houston Texans.

On Monday, coach Kevin Stefanski said Landry was "week to week" and that it was still not clear whether Landry would go on IR.

The 28-year-old Landry will now be sidelined for games against Chicago, Minnesota and the Los Angeles Chargers before he can return, and it's possible he could be out longer depending on the severity of his sprained medial collateral ligament.

Landry had never missed a game for any reason in eight years before he was forced to sit one in 2020 because of COVID-19 contact tracing protocols.

Because of this injury, Landry's streak of catching at least two passes ended at 111 straight games — the fourth-longest streak in history. Landry has six receptions for 80 yards and two rushes for 13 yards and a touchdown in 2021.

In four seasons with Cleveland, Landry has 242 catches for 3,070 yards and 13 TDs. Landry caught at least 84 passes — with a career-high of 112 in 2017 in his first four seasons with Miami, which drafted him in the second round in 2014.

Landry is one of Cleveland's team leaders, and his absence will be felt on and off the field.

"You never want to lose a player in the caliber of Jarvis, but even more-so the leadership he brings," quarterback Baker Mayfield said Sunday. "When things are not going well, the stuff that he can say to the guys and is just another voice who we have to lean on."

While Landry won't be available, the Browns could get back star receiver Odell Beckham Jr. this week when they host the Chicago Bears. Beckham hasn't played since injuring his knee on Oct. 25 and undergoing season-ending surgery.

Beckham has been inactive for Cleveland's first two games, but signs are pointing to him making his season debut this week.

Stefanski said no decision had been made about Beckham's availability, and his return would not be related to Landry's status.

Whether Beckham can play or not, the Browns will have to rely on young receivers Donovan Peoples-Jones and rookie Anthony Schwartz. Rashard Higgins, who has been a security blanket for Mayfield the past two seasons, could also have an expanded role.