Travis Benjamin

Travis Benjamin said he would like to re-sign with the Browns if the two sides could strike a deal.

(John Kuntz, Cleveland.com)

BEREA, Ohio - The Browns agreed to a contract extension with one of their few pass-catching playmakers Thursday and might not be far from re-signing a second.

Receiver Travis Benjamin, a pending unrestricted free agent, sounded optimistic about striking a deal that would keep him in Cleveland. Asked how close the sides are to getting it done, Benjamin replied: "You can say 75 to 80 percent."

He made the remarks about an hour after the club signed tight end Gary Barnidge to a three-year contract that NFL Network reported was worth just north of $12 million.

Benjamin is like Barnidge in that both are enjoying career years. The big-play threat has 54 receptions for a team-leading 826 yards with both figures surpassing combined totals from his first three seasons. He ranks second in the NFL with six receptions of 40-plus yards - one behind the Steelers' Antonio Brown - and second in punt return average (12.4 yards).

The Browns wideout made it clear he's open to returning despite the team's 2-10 record.

"If an offer comes on the table and I'm happy about it, (it would) be lovely to come back and be a Cleveland Brown forever," said Benjamin, a 2012 fourth-round draft pick. "But until then, it's in God's hands."

The receiver returned to practice Thursday on a limited basis after injuring his shoulder in the Browns' 37-3 loss to the Bengals. He expects to play against the Niners on Sunday and isn't worried about risking injury in a contract year.

"Not at all," Benjamin said. "Each and every Sunday I'm going out there and playing my best for my team. If I'm healthy to go, I'm willing to go."

The Browns' banged-up receiving corps got more good news Thursday as Taylor Gabriel (concussion) returned to practice in a limited capacity. Gabriel has missed the past two games.

Feeling excluded?

Mike Pettine addressed reports that owner Jimmy Haslam has had off-site meetings with team president Alec Scheiner and general manager Ray Farmer about how to fix the team's problems. The ESPN Cleveland report noted Pettine wasn't included, raising questions about the coach's future with the team.

"I know there have been a lot of meetings," Pettine said. "It goes back to what I said the other day. When you get to this point, you start 'Where are we now? It's getting towards the end of the season, what are our thoughts moving forward?'

"I just know there is a lot of stuff that gets thrown out there. I can't get caught up in that who's meeting with who. I'm tasked with getting this team prepared to play a game. We want to go out and get this feeling, taste out of our mouths. That's all I'm focused on. I don't get caught up in that."

Departure

Browns offensive assistant Kurt Roper reportedly is expected to join Will Muschamp's staff as South Carolina's new offensive coordinator.

Pettine wouldn't confirm the report, conceding it was "close," but added Roper will remain with the Browns through season's end.