RGIII to practice next week

Associated Press

BEREA

Browns quarterback Robert Griffin III will practice next week and it remains possible he’ll play again this season.

Griffin has been sidelined with a broken bone in his left shoulder since in the season opener at Philadelphia. He was cleared for non-contact drills this week, and coach Hue Jackson said Friday that the 26-year-old will return to practice in a larger capacity next week.

“There is another procedure that he needs to go through medically to see for sure if he is totally OK, if the bone is healed totally properly,” Jackson said as the winless Browns concluded a week of practice before hosting the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. “But he will have the opportunity to start practicing next week and go out there with his teammates and perform and do what he can do.”

Once Griffin returns to practice, the Browns can activate him from injured reserve to the active roster at any point during a 21-day period.

Griffin rode a stationary bike and worked with a trainer on the side during the portion of practices open to the media this week.

The Browns signed Griffin to a two-year, $15 million contract in March with the idea he could revive his career and possibly be their franchise QB. However, Griffin was injured on a running play late in the Week 1 loss to the Eagles, raising more questions about his durability.

Griffin needs to get back on the field this season to either show the Browns he can be part of their future or to showcase himself for another team. He’s due a $750,000 roster bonus in March.

His injury was followed by backup Josh McCown breaking his collarbone, which rushed rookie Cody Kessler into the lineup. Kessler is 0-7 as a starter and was benched in the second half last week at Baltimore.

Griffin has been plagued by injuries throughout his career. The 2011 Heisman Trophy winner from Baylor sustained a torn knee ligament as a sophomore but came back and was the No. 2 overall pick by Washington in 2012.

With his rocket arm and unique running ability, he electrified the league and was voted the AP’s top offensive rookie. He suffered a knee injury in the playoffs but returned to have a strong 2013 season before injuring his ankle the following year.

He lost his job to Kirk Cousins last season, didn’t play a snap and was released by the Redskins in March.