BEREA, Ohio -- Hue Jackson is witnessing the raw, natural ability of Josh Gordon in practice that some of Gordon's teammates have experienced for years.

The Pro Bowl receiver was activated last week, and has only practiced with the team a handful of times. But Gordon is getting reps with the first-team offense and displaying flashes of the talent that enabled him to lead the league with 1,646 yards in 2013.

Granted, he's still rounding into shape after coming off a quad injury, but Gordon is catching everything within reach, including at least half a dozen passes on Sunday. And even though he's suspended for the first four games of the season, Jackson is giving him valuable starting reps.



"What's important is that I don't really know him yet as a football player,'' said Jackson. "I'm learning and I need to see what he's able to do. He's talented, obviously. The more I can see him and feel him before because he'll be away and not able to do that, the more I can understand when he gets back and he can hit the ground running the right way.''

Jackson indicated that Gordon will play a big role when he gets back, despite his long layoff. Since 2013, he's played in only five games, and sat out all last season on his substance abuse suspension.

"It's important for him to be out there with those guys,'' said Jackson. "It's important for him to be with the ones because I think he's going to be one of our better players. We have to put him out there and see what he is capable of doing."

Gordon's encouraging practices haven't been lost on his teammates.

"He still looks the exact same and it's just crazy,'' cornerback Joe Haden said. "He looks a little bigger. I don't know how that happened, but he's still out there running around, looking the same, running his routes, floating. It still looks effortless.''



If all goes as planned, Gordon will appear on the field with Corey Coleman (hamstring) Friday night in Tampa, after two days of joint practices with the Bucs.

But Jackson won't risk losing them to long-term injuries.

"I'm looking forward to one having them there, potentially having them all for a game and have them go out there and play with our offensive football team,'' Jackson said. "It would be fun to watch all those guys and see the different pieces, but we have to get them there. I just want to make sure. I'm going to be cautious.''

Duke Johnson scare

Johnson walked off the practice field with a trainer midway through the session and was checked for a concussion, but he was cleared. He should be fine to practice against the Bucs this week.

Joe Haden on K'Waun Williams

Haden indicated that Williams has been grappling with whether or not to continue his career. Williams is appealing his suspension, and has been told he'll need ankle surgery. The Browns' position is that Williams told them he wanted to retire and then changed his story the next day to say it was the ankle.

"I just hope that everything clears out,'' said Haden. "K'Waun was one of my really good friends on the team. Just a tough situation. You gotta really love this to be here. It's a lot of hours, a lot of things you have to put into it and if you're not all-in to it, then it's not no one's place to tell you what you want to do. I'm here for K'waun whatever he wants to do, but we've just got to keep moving on with who we've got here.''



On the mend

Left tackle Joe Thomas (back), quarterback Austin Davis (concussion) and defensive end John Hughes (personal reason) all returned to practice Sunday. ...Receiver Ricardo Louis (hamstring) remained idle.



No live tackling in Tampa

No sirens will be blaring during joint practices with the Bucs.

"We won't take anybody to the ground,'' Jackson said. "We're going to play a game so we'll try to keep everybody up. The game is on Friday. This is more of let's practice against each other and take care of each other."

Fortunately for the Browns, many of their injured player are coming back in time to participate.

"A lot of teams probably wouldn't do it on the third week, but I thought it would be best for us, and I couldn't foresee the physical injuries that we would have or anything,'' said Jackson. "It's working out in our favor because it is important for us and what we have in the future."

Browns sign receiver Josh Boyce

The Browns signed Boyce on Sunday and waived/injured WR Dennis Parks.

Boyce (5-11, 205) was originally a fourth round pick of the Patriots in 2013 out of TCU. He's started three of his 10 games and has nine catches for 121 yards. He was waived by the Colts in Aug. 16th.