For the first time in more than two months, Kareem Hunt was on the practice field with his Browns teammates Monday, and he appeared to pick up right where he left off.
"I thought he looked good," Browns coach Freddie Kitchens said. "He looks like he is in good shape. He moved around good. It is always good to get good players back."
Hunt, who is serving an eight-game suspension for off-field incidents committed while he was a member of the Kansas City Chiefs, won't be available until the Browns' Week 10 matchup against the Buffalo Bills, but he'll be able to get back up to speed with the team in the meantime. At Monday's practice, he helped prepare the defense as a member of the scout team offense and made a few nice runs in the process, guard Joel Bitonio said.
Hunt, who appeared in one preseason game, is also recovering from sports hernia surgery.
"I think Kareem had a good spring, a good training camp," Kitchens said. "He went out with an injury in training camp so any reps he gets is good. For the most part, it is just good to have him back in the building, getting him back and continuing to support him in every way possible as a player and as a person."
Check out photos from today's practice by team photographer Matt Starkey
Wide receiver Jarvis Landry (80) during practice on October 21, 2019
Linebacker Malik Jefferson (40) during practice on October 21, 2019
Defensive tackle Devaroe Lawrence (99) during practice on October 21, 2019
Quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) during practice on October 21, 2019
Defensive end Chris Smith (50) during practice on October 21, 2019
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice on October 21, 2019
Defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi (65) during practice on October 21, 2019
Running Back Kareem Hunt (27) during practice on October 21, 2019
Wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (13) and Wide receiver Jarvis Landry (80) during practice on October 21, 2019
Wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (13) during practice on October 21, 2019
Running Back Kareem Hunt (27) during practice on October 21, 2019
Quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) during practice on October 21, 2019
Running Back Kareem Hunt (27) during practice on October 21, 2019
Wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (13) during practice on October 21, 2019
Wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (13) during practice on October 21, 2019
Wide receiver Taywan Taylor (10) during practice on October 21, 2019
Wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (13) during practice on October 21, 2019
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice on October 21, 2019
Defensive end Chris Smith (50) during practice on October 21, 2019
Wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge (12) during practice on October 21, 2019
Quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) during practice on October 21, 2019
Wide Receiver Sheldon Gibson (17) during practice on October 21, 2019
Punter Jamie Gillan (7) during practice on October 21, 2019
Cornerback Robert Jackson (34) during practice on October 21, 2019
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice on October 21, 2019
Linebacker Mack Wilson (51) during practice on October 21, 2019
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during practice on October 21, 2019
Quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) during practice on October 21, 2019
Cornerback Greedy Williams (26) during practice on October 21, 2019
Defensive end Olivier Vernon (54) during practice on October 21, 2019
Defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson (98) and Defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi (65) during practice on October 21, 2019
Wide receiver Jarvis Landry (80) during practice on October 21, 2019
Wide receiver Rashard Higgins (81) during practice on October 21, 2019
Head Coach Freddie Kitchens during practice on October 21, 2019
Without Hunt, the Browns have fared pretty well with their Nick Chubb-led ground attack. Even after the bye, Chubb ranks fourth in the league with 607 rushing yards, good for a little more than 100 per game. Cleveland ranks second in the NFL in yards per carry (5.3).
Hunt is in his third season in the NFL. He spent his first two in Kansas City, where he rushed 453 times for 2,151 yards and 15 touchdowns and caught 79 passes for 833 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Chubb and Hunt have become close friends since Hunt joined the Browns in February. They're expected to play a big role together during the second half of Cleveland's season.
I think those are two individuals that you have no doubt in your mind that they are here to win football games," Kitchens said. "Whatever it takes to do that, they would be willing to do. I have total confidence that is the way both of those guys feel, and that is what I expect."
