Justin Gilbert

Cleveland Browns cornerback Justin Gilbert has been used primarily as a kick returner this season.

(Associated Press)

BEREA, Ohio - Justin Gilbert's is "trending in the right direction."

At least that's the opinion of his coach.

Mike Pettine believes the maligned 2014 first-round draft pick, who's missed the past three games recovering from a concussion, is making progress in his second season despite playing just 50 snaps on defense.

The cornerback started just one game - against the Ravens on Nov. 30 in place of an injured Joe Haden - and largely has been an afterthought except in the kickoff-return game.

"He did, and there was progress there, but he'd be the first to tell you it wasn't enough," Pettine said. "At least he's still trending in the right direction. The injury stuff (hip flexor in training camp and the concussion late in the season) was a setback, but we're all hopeful that he can use what momentum he has from this season."

That's a comment likely to draw skepticism from Browns fans, who have seen the No. 8 overall pick pushed down the depth chart over the past two seasons.

Gilbert's technique, practice habits and desire have come into question. He's also dealt with off-field problems, including a road-rage incident in September prior to the opener.

"We're in that process now of talking to all of our guys," Pettine said. "It's critical for a lot of guys, Justin included, how they plan to spend (the offseason). As you know, the league rules, the (players) are not here. Sometimes, how they do in the fall depends on what choices they make, where they want to spend, who they want to train with and where they're going to be in the spring.

"That's part of the year-end process for us as a staff to visit with everybody. 'Hey, where are you going to be? What are your plans?' We're still allowed to communicate with them but we're not allowed to do anything from a coaching standpoint. This is an important time for everybody to kind of cast that."

Gilbert's future with the club is anything but secure.

Holiday cheer

The Browns (3-11) will not practice on Christmas Day as they prepare for Sunday's game against the Chiefs.

The coaching staff elected to conduct longer practices elsewhere in the week, Pettine said, so the players could spend Friday with their families.

"What we did is we lengthened yesterday, we lengthened today and then we will lengthen Saturday," the coach said. "We end up getting the same number of reps over the course of those three days, the same amount of meeting time, just it being Christmas, instead of taking the morning off and come in from 1-5 p.m. and that whole deal.

"Places I've been, I've done it both ways. Just given where we are, it made sense to load up on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday and give the chance - we talked about it in the meeting - to take tomorrow to stick your head above water for a second, reflect, recharge, refocus for these last two, and hopefully, we'll have a positive result on Sunday."

Emotional game

Browns defensive coordinator Jim O'Neil had no issue with the sideline spat between safety Donte Whitner and rookie corner Charles Gaines during Sunday's 30-13 loss to the Seahawks.

FOX cameras showed Whitner saying something to the youngster and Gaines shoving the 10-year veteran in response. The two teammates later fist-bumped and got back to action.

Gaines said the confrontation was a "little football talk," and he respects Whitner's desire "to win every down."

O'Neil had no problem with the exchange.

"I love that. I want our guys to be emotional and into it," the assistant said. "Two emotional players, they want to win. It's an emotional game. Unless you've been on an NFL sideline, it's hard to explain it. There is a lot of emotion. Those guys want to get off the field on third down. They want to stop touchdowns. They want to make plays. They want to win football games. You can't do that if you're not emotional."

Impressive debut

Kick returner Raheem Mostert enjoyed a strong debut in the loss to the Seahaws. He ran back five kicks, averaging 31.8 yards, including a 53-yard return that set up a second-quarter field goal.

The Purdue product had spent time with the Eagles, Dolphins and Ravens before signing with the Browns.

"He is a guy that I know to a lot of people came out of nowhere," special teams coordinator Chris Tabor. "As we studied him in Baltimore - I have written him up many a time - I felt pretty good about what he could do. He showed that there in Seattle. He has great vision. He hits it. He is explosive, and he is a running back . . . He is a running back that is strong. They have a natural knack of running behind their pads, good vision, good ball security."

Quotable

O'Neil on whether the NFL's 26th ranked defense (387.9 yards per game) is still missing pieces.

"No, I'm not going to say that. We were happy with what we had. We just have to be more consistent."

No changing of the guard

The Browns will open against the Chiefs on Sunday the same way they finished against the Seahawks on the offensive line.

Austin Pasztor will start at left guard with struggling rookie Cam Erving at right guard. Erving replaced John Greco (knee) on the game's first series. He allowed two sacks, including a strip-sack, and drew a holding penalty.

Injury report

Pettine said defensive back K'Waun Williams (shoulder) will likely be a game-time decision. He sat out the Seahawks' game with the injury.

Left tackle Joe Thomas (knee), center Alex Mack (calf) and running back Duke Johnson (hamstring) returned to practice today.

Receiver Taylor Gabriel (personal) running back Isaiah Crowell (personal) and Glenn Winston (concussion) remained idle.

Feel the noise

Offensive coordinator John DeFilippo said the Browns are playing in the two loudest venues in the league in back-to-back weeks.

Kansas City's Arrowhead Stadium was considered the hardest place to play for the opposition noise-wise until Seattle's CenturyLink Field came into existence in 2002.

"I forget what year it was; it may have been 2012 when I was with the Raiders (and Kansas City) set a Guinness World Record for noise and then Seattle broke it the next week to break their record," DeFilippo said. "I am not going to say one or the other, but they are both very loud."