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Nick Chubb screams out the pain, knee twisted

Photo: Matt Freed / AP

After the end of the season for star quarterback Aaron Rodgers of the New York Jets in the first game of the season, there is the next serious injury in American football: NFL star Nick Chubb of the Cleveland Browns has seriously injured his knee in the second game of the season.

In the 22-26 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, he was unable to continue playing early in the second quarter after being hit in the legs by opponent Minkah Fitzpatrick. Television footage showed his left knee bending at an unnatural angle.

His coach Kevin Stefanski said after the game, when asked if he expected Chubb to miss the rest of the season: "I do."

Numerous U.S. sports stars expressed their regret on Monday evening (local time), including NBA superstar LeBron James and colleagues such as Lamar Jackson and Christian McCaffrey from the NFL. The scene looked so brutal that the TV channel ESPN refrained from repeating it. There was initially no diagnosis of the 27-year-old's injury.

The game started very badly for the Browns. On the first play, quarterback Deshaun Watson's pass clapped from his teammate's hands into those of a Steelers defender. Alex Highsmith carried the football into the end zone and the Browns were already behind after just nine seconds. Steelers star defender TJ Watt scored the final touchdown in the final quarter after the Browns lost the ball again.

Derek Carr takes second win of the season with the Saints

In the earlier meeting on Monday night, the New Orleans Saints won 20-17 at the Carolina Panthers. The Saints, with their new quarterback Derek Carr, recorded their second win of the season. This had not been achieved since 2013. "They're an important reason why I wanted to come here. I don't have to be perfect for us to win and I certainly wasn't in the first half," Carr said of the Saints defence's strong performance.

"We don't feel like we've played so well so far, but we're still at two wins. That's pretty good." The Panthers, on the other hand, with young Bryce Young as their playmaker, are still waiting for their first success of the season.

vgl/dpa