Nick Chubb returned to practice for first time since suffering a knee injury on Oct. 4. (Browns Nation)
You must have an active subscription to read this story.
Click Here to subscribe Now!
Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland.
Takeaways from Browns practice and interviews …
It had the feeling of a victory Monday for the Browns, even though they were coming off a bye week.
Mayfield, who is in quarantine after being in contact on Saturday with a staff member who tested positive for Covid-19, could be back to work on Wednesday if he continues to test negative. Mayfield participated in team meetings via Zoom and also viewed tape of Monday’s practice, said coach Kevin Stefanski.
Get ready to rumble
Chubb suffered a sprained MCL in his right knee Oct. 4 against the Cowboys. Teller suffered a calf strain the following week against the Colts.
Stefanski said Chubb “looked like Nick looks. He was ready to roll out there at practice. Obviously, he is champing at the bit. He has done everything in this rehab that has been asked of him. As you can imagine, he has attacked it. We will see how the week unfolds here.”
Without Chubb and Teller, the Browns’ rushing offense fell from No. 1 (204.5 yards a game and 5.9 yards per rush) in the NFL to No. 5 (150.0 per game and 5.0 per rush).
In the four games without Chubb and three without Teller, the Browns averaged 91 yards a game and 3.85 per rush.
“We will see how this unfolds this week, but you are talking about two good football players,” Stefanski said. “If we are able to get them back, I think that will give a boost to our team.”
With Chubb and Kareem Hunt reunited as an incomparable one-two running punch, and the pulverizing Teller back at right guard, the Browns hope to restore toughness to their offense.
Speaking of Teller, Hooper said, “It is definitely fun when you have a guy like that on the field just burying people and having fun with it, laughing and joking around. He definitely has that infectious personality that I think resonates with not just the offensive side of the ball but the entire team. Definitely good to have a guy like that back.”
Hooper missed two games after needing an emergency appendectomy on Oct. 23.
Garrett, who co-leads the NFL with nine sacks, suffered a knee injury in the Raiders game before the bye. Stefanski said Garrett "looked good to be out there today."
Phillips has been in and out of the lineup with a knee injury.
Also, linebacker Mack Wilson said he finally felt “100 percent” after easing in through six games following a hyperextended knee injury in training camp.
Finally, Stefanski said that Jarvis Landry (ribs) and Hunt (groin, ribs) were in better shape, due to the bye week.
Once Mayfield returns on Wednesday, the Browns will be as healthy as they’ve been in quite some time as the second half begins Sunday against the Houston Texans.
“I think that the NFL season is a slog,” Stefanski said. “Every game comes at you and every team deals with injuries. We are no different. To get this bye right in the middle and to be able to have guys that are coming back potentially off of this, I think, can be a big boost to our guys. Like we have mentioned before, nobody feels 100 percent. That is just how it goes. They are all battling through different things, but it is nice to have those guys back out there.”
Brownie bits
Stefanski would not say if the coaches’ evaluation of everything during the bye would result in lineup changes. “We will see how that all shakes out over the next few days,” he said. “We will make sure that we continue to have discussions with the coaches. As you know and as you have seen, we play a lot of people so we are going to be counting on a lot of guys. We are going to continue to rotate guys in there. As it relates to specific lineup changes, we will just see how that plays out.” …
Wilson, for one, is excited about the team’s prospects over the last eight games. “I just can’t wait to see what we do week in and week out,” he said. “I just can’t wait to see how we respond with having everybody back and how hard we want to go out each week and finish this second half of the season out strong.” …
Right tackle Jack Conklin was excused from practice, Stefanski said, and is expected back on Wednesday.