Jabaal Sheard injured

Jabaal Sheard and Quentin Groves returned to practice, and both hope to face the Lions. (John Kuntz / The Plain Dealer)

BEREA, Ohio -- Outside linebackers Jabaal Sheard and Quentin Groves returned to Browns practice Wednesday on a limited basis and hope to play Sunday against the Lions.

Sheard suffered a sprained knee Sept. 22 against the Vikings and Groves a high ankle sprain Sept. 15 against the Ravens. Defensive end Billy Winn (quad) remained idle with his quadriceps injury.

"I'll leave it up to them,'' said Groves, who was originally slated to be out four to six weeks. "I'm not going to worry about it. I will be ready if my number is called and if it isn't, hey, I'll be ready next week.''

Groves, a backup behind Paul Kruger and Sheard, knows it's important to jump back into the rotation. With him and Sheard out, Kruger and Barkevious Mingo have played more than planned, with both taking 71 reps against the Bills.

"It is (important) because it takes stress off Krug and Mingo,'' said Groves. "This is a big learning curve for Mingo because he's a rookie and he's playing so many snaps in an NFL game. It's not preseason. It's a double-edge sword because at the same time, you get those reps that he really needs. It was good while it lasted, but hopefully (I'll) get back sooner than later.''

Groves is preparing hard for Lions quarterback Matt Stafford and running back Reggie Bush.

"Matthew is a gunslinger,'' said Groves. "He has that gunslinger mentality and he'll throw it up and down the field if he can. Reggie Bush is going to stress you on the edges, make plays when he catches the ball in open space. You have to try to contain those guys and then do what you can do with Calvin Johnson. He's going to get his catches but you have to limit him as much as you can. You have to play your defense and hope that the defense and scheme you play works.''

Groves fully expects Johnson (knee) to play even though the star receiver didn't practice Wednesday. But he believes the Lions are explosive even without him.

"Looking at them on film they have a chance to be a great offense,'' he said. "When you add a dynamic receiver like Calvin Johnson it makes it that much more explosive.''

Schwartz on Johnson: Detroit Lions coach Jim Schwartz wouldn't reveal if Johnson will return this week. Last week, with Johnson sidelined, the Lions lost, 22-9, to Green Bay.

"I'm certainly not going to tell you guys that,'' Schwartz said on a conference call Wednesday.

But Johnson's teammates are preparing as if he won't play.

“That’s what we have to do,” Bush told reporters. “He didn’t practice today, so that’s what we have to do. We have to prepare as if he’s not going to play and, again, like I said, the best thing we can do is not let one loss turn into two.”

Schwartz stressed that Johnson played at times last year without practicing during the week.

“Whether he gets back on the practice field or not, (that) determination may not even come until Sunday. We’ll just have to see how it goes. But he’s improving.”

Browns coach Rob Chudzinksi said he expects Johnson to play.

“He’s a difference maker, he’s a great player and he’s the best at his position in the league,” Chudzinski said on a conference call with Lions reporters.

Ogbonnaya limited: Fullback Chris Ogbonnaya (concussion) also returned to action Wednesday on a limited basis. He hopes to play, but if not, the Browns can use MarQueis Gray at fullback again. Gary is the emergency third quarterback behind Brandon Weeden and Jason Campbell.

Lauvao ready for full duty: Right guard Shawn Lauvao played almost the entire game against the Bills in his return from arthroscopic ankle injury. He played 91 percent of the snaps, with Oniel Cousins picking up the slack.

"I felt good, man,'' he said. "Like I said before I have been bustin' my butt to come back. So I'm cool.''

He better be. He's got Ndamukong Suh this week.

"Shawn being back, there’s a comfort level with the guys around him that have played with him and that familiarity,'' said Chudzinski. "I think he’ll be better having the last week under his belt, as well.”

Third QB: Chudzinski said the Browns are still exploring their options. "Our personnel department has been working hard on that,'' he said. "We'll go through and we'll continue to look at them. I feel comfortable from a standpoint of on game day you're dressing two, anyhow, and that's what we've done. We have an emergency third that would be available so we can take our time and do what's best for our team at this point."

Schwartz on Lombardi: Schwartz began his NFL career in Cleveland as a college and pro scout under Mike Lombardi from 1993-95 and had high praise for his former boss.

"Mike is probably the smartest guy I've ever met in the NFL,'' Schwartz said. "He never needs to look at notes. He's just one of those guys that can recall every single player and every single game. I certainly learned an awful lot from Mike and Bill Belichick. I got a chance to go there as an unpaid intern and really just learn as I went.

"Nick Saban, Kirk Ferentz, Ozzie Newsome were all there. Pretty much everything I learned about the NFL started right there, whether it would be offense, defense, special teams, personnel.''