Little by little, Robert Griffin III is starting to show signs that he's ready to return to the field. But, given his present status, it is not yet clear he will be able to lead the winless Cleveland Browns in the Week 11 match against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Earlier this week, Griffin has been cleared by doctors for non-contact activities, according to NFL.com. However, despite his improved status, the Browns will most likely not activate him yet for practices.
One possible reason for this is to avoid aggravating Griffin's injury, which he suffered during the opening game this season. Of course, give Griffin's value to the team, the Browns will most likely give the quarterback ample time to fully recover before placing him back on the field. Also, the Cleveland franchise currently has one slot on the roster for a returning player from the injured reserve. The team will most likely use this slot for Griffin.
However, once Griffin has been cleared to play, it is not yet clear if he will return to his starting role immediately. As noted by head coach Hue Jackson, the team will make its decision on Griffin once he's already physically capable enough to practice.
"I think today would be premature to make that decision," Jackson said in a statement about Griffin's status. "But once he can go back out there and start practicing, then I think there is a window of time in there before we have to do anything."
This means that for the upcoming game on Sunday, Josh McCown will still lead the Browns in the match against the Steelers. His backup will still be Cody Kessler.
Given the way the Browns are playing this season, the team needs to make a significant change in its roster, particularly in the offensive line.
Since Week 1, the team has not yet won a single game, which makes their playoff chances almost next to zero. The Browns also couldn't rely on the return of Griffin to turn the team's record around because given his present status, there's a chance that he might still miss the entire season.
