Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said Pro Bowl running back Nick Chubb "hit all the benchmarks" as he tries to return for Sunday's home game against the Houston Texans, but Chubb was not activated off injured reserve on Friday.
All signs look positive for Chubb, who sprained the medial collateral ligament in his right knee on Oct. 4 at Dallas. He did not wear a brace in practice for the second consecutive day, according to a pool reporter.
The Browns have until Saturday to take Chubb off IR if he's deemed fit to face the Texans.
"I still want to huddle up with Nick and the coaches and (Senior Vice President of Player Health and Development) Joe Sheehan and the medical staff and make a determination," Stefanski said on Zoom. "Have not had a chance to do that yet. Just walked off the field."
Asked if Chubb did anything to give him pause, Stefanski said, "No. To answer that, though, I should say no, but we're going to do what's best for Nick, what's best for the Browns.
"We wanted to use each one of these days and see how he responded each day. He hit all of the benchmarks. It's just a matter of making sure we are all on the same page and making sure that he is ready to go. If he is ready, he will be out there. If we feel like he is not ready this week, we will make that decision."
Second in the league in rushing last season, Chubb realized such conversations would take place, saying Wednesday, "It's more than just me saying I feel great."
Stefanski did declare right guard Wyatt Teller ready to play after he missed the past three games with a strained right calf.
Chubb and Teller returned to practice Monday. Teller was listed on the injury report as limited all week, also likely the case with Chubb.
Coming off the Browns' bye week, the only player whose game status was listed was rookie linebacker Jacob Phillips (knee), who is questionable.
For the Texans, running back David Johnson and guard Senio Kelemete are out with concussions, and defensive end Charles Omenihu (hamstring) and linebacker Dylan Cole (back) are questionable.
