BEREA, Ohio _ Browns quarterback Robert Griffin III will practice next week for the first time in more than two months, coach Hue Jackson revealed Friday.
Griffin, though, will be limited because he hasn't been cleared for contact. He'll miss his 10th consecutive game Sunday when the Browns (0-10) host the Pittsburgh Steelers (4-5).
Jackson expects him to undergo a scan next week to determine whether the coracoid bone in his left shoulder is fully healed. The bone was fractured Sept. 11 in the regular-season opener. The test will determine whether Griffin can be cleared for contact.
"There's another procedure that he has to go through medically to see for sure if he's totally OK, if the bone has healed totally properly," Jackson said. "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.
"There still will be one more medical hurdle to clear to be totally cleared to play. ... He definitely has to have this test in order to move forward, to take the non-contact part off of it."
On Monday, Browns head of football operations Sashi Brown said Griffin is on pace to return this year and it would be Jackson's decision whether he plays. Rookie Cody Kessler will make his eighth start Sunday.
"There's a chance that things will work out (for Griffin to play again this season)," Jackson said.
Jackson added he didn't know whether Griffin would be ready to play Nov. 27 against the New York Giants. The Browns have a bye Dec. 4 and might want to use the break to give Griffin some extra time to prepare himself. They'll have four games left after the bye: at home against the Cincinnati Bengals (Dec. 11), at the Buffalo Bills (Dec. 18), at home against the San Diego Chargers (Dec. 24) and at the Steelers (Jan. 1).
The Browns will need to designate Griffin to return from injured reserve before he practices, but the move will just be a formality at this point. Each NFL team is permitted to bring one player back from IR per season.
"I'm extremely happy for him," cornerback Joe Haden said. "For this to happen to him this year and how excited he was to really get a chance to restart from how everything went down with Washington, I was super excited for him."
Rookie wide receiver Corey Coleman admires how Griffin has handled the adversity he has encountered this season.
"You can always go to him for advice, and he's done an unbelievable job," Coleman said. "He's a captain. He's done a great job.
"It shows you a lot about a man when he's down and the way he acts. He's been handling it just right, just the way he should."
