CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Isaiah Crowell doesn't plan to watch Sunday's tilt from the sideline.

A hip injury has limited the running back in practice this week, but Crowell doesn't see it shelving him on Sunday.

"Everybody's body is a little banged up," Crowell said. "[I'm] trying to get a little rest to ease up off of it, but I'll be ready for Sunday."

Terrance West would stand to receive the brunt of the backfield workload should Crowell be unable to go. Glenn Winston has also earned an increase in practice reps this week, and the Browns signed Shaun Draughn this week as insurance.

Alas, Crowell contends he won't miss any time.

"It was nothing major," he said.

Crowell rushed 12 times for 88 yards and two touchdowns against Atlanta on Nov. 23, but he gained only 29 yards on 17 carries last week. West carried the ball seven times for 32 yards last week, but also lost a fumble.

"We're expecting (West) to bounce back," said offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan. "We're counting on him to. This is a big game for us. We're fighting for our lives to get in the playoffs. Terrance had a tough week last week turning the ball over, but we need him. We're depending on him. He's got to bounce back. He's got to run hard. He's got to hold onto the ball."

Deep breaths: Gary Barnidge inhaled. Then he exhaled. Then he flashed a smile.

He passed the test. No pain.

Barnidge took a helmet to the ribs last Sunday against the Bills. His status for this week's affair against Indianapolis is up in the air, but he proved to reporters on Thursday that he has no trouble breathing, which wasn't the case after he took the shot to his midsection.

"It was tough to breathe at first, but I've had the wind knocked out of me before," Barnidge said.

The tight end said that if he does play on Sunday, he'll wear protective gear to shield the affected area. Whether he sees the field, however, depends on a decision that will be reached by the coaching staff.

"It's up to the coaches," Barnidge said. "It's their opinion. I trust whatever they decide."

Head coach Mike Pettine said he's "cautiously optimistic" that tight end Jordan Cameron can play on Sunday. Cameron has been sidelined since late October with a concussion.

Center of the universe: There might be another change at center for the Browns and this time, it might have nothing to do with injuries.

Nick McDonald's grip on the starting gig has loosened, and the Browns have yet to decide if it will be him snapping to Brian Hoyer on Sunday or Ryan Seymour, who would become the team's fourth starting center this season.

"To me, it's similar to the quarterback situation, just a little less of a glamor position," Pettine said. "It's competition. You go with the guy who gives you the best chance to win. This is no different."

Seymour saw his first NFL game action last week when McDonald suffered an ankle injury early in the loss to Buffalo. Seymour played the rest of the game.

"I think last week I learned a lot," Seymour said Thursday. "Needless to say, I made a few mistakes, but I took what I saw on film and tried to put it toward this week and correct those mistakes. You just try to prepare every game like you're starting, even if you're not."

When Alex Mack suffered a broken leg in October, John Greco slid over from right guard to replace him. McDonald eventually assumed the center position and Greco returned to guard. Now, it could be Seymour's turn.

Said McDonald: "Whoever is running out there and starting on Sunday has to play hard and have high expectations."

Cream of the crop: Defensive coordinator Jim O'Neil called Joe Haden the best cornerback in football on Thursday. That compliment resonated with the fifth-year pro.

"Playing corner, you're out there on an island, especially with me," Haden said. "I'm out there by myself just trying to hold down the No. 1 receiver. The coaches know how hard my job is, and as long as I get the love from them and the people in the locker room that really know what I'm doing and how hard my job really is, that's all that matters.

"During the beginning [of the season], when I wasn't making the plays I felt like I could, they had my back, and they knew they'd seen me do it before and this was going to come. I was going to keep playing, making plays. Now, just being able to make the plays and knowing I can do it, I'm just very, very proud and happy that my coaches and everybody notice it."