Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers

Browns inside linebacker Karlos Dansby celebrates intercepting Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in the second quarter of a Sept. 7 game.

(Thomas Ondrey, Plain Dealer)

BEREA, Ohio – Karlos Dansby has ample incentive to return quickly from a knee sprain he suffered against the Texans.

One of the biggest motivators, he said, will be sitting in the stands at the Georgia Dome on Sunday.

"My grandmother is coming to her first NFL game and I can't participate?" said Dansby, a Birmingham, Ala, native. "She's 84 and it's her birthday."

The Browns' inside linebacker, who makes the defensive calls, wouldn't lay odds on him playing against the Falcons. But like coach Mike Pettine said Wednesday he's not yet ruling himself out as his team makes a push for the playoffs.

Dansby confirmed he sustained an MCL sprain during the second quarter of the 23-7 loss to the Texans.

He did not practice Wednesday. If Dansby can't play, the Browns (6-4) likely will start Craig Robertson and rookie Chris Kirksely at inside linebackers. Dansby has missed just four defensive snaps this season.

Pettine still doesn't think the "possibility is high," that Dansby plays Sunday. But the veteran certainly isn't talking like a player who Pettine said Monday could be sidelined at least a month.

"I'm just going to do my part," Dansby said of rehabbing the injury. "I'm trying to get ready and my body will tell me when I'm ready to go.

"I've got a couple more days. I'm going to try it, though."

Dansby said his "whole family" is making the trek to Atlanta for the game. The team's leading tackler, and one of the NFL's top-rated inside linebacker's according to ProFootballFocus.com, has been keeping fans updated on his progress via social media.

Beyond putting "countless hours" into his rehab, he's touting his nutritional elixir – lobster and mashed potatoes.

"I'm feeding like a vampire drinking blood," he said. "I've got to feed it. For a vampire to bounce back, he's got to get his blood and I've got to keep getting the lobster mash in my body right now. I'm eating a lot, man."