The NFL Insiders crew explains what impact Robert Griffin III will have for the Browns in returning to practice, and what the timetable may be for his return to game action. (1:41)

BEREA, Ohio -- Cleveland Browns quarterback Robert Griffin III returned to practice Wednesday.

The Browns designated Griffin to return from injured reserve on Wednesday morning. The team now has 21 days to decide whether he will return to the active roster. If he doesn't, he will remain on injured reserve for the rest of the season.

Griffin was the second quarterback throwing in drills open to the media. Josh McCown took the first reps, with Griffin up second.

He threw freely but not always accurately, as a couple of throws were wide. In all drills the media saw, quarterbacks either threw to staff members standing in one spot or to receivers running without defensive backs.

"I'm the happiest guy in the building today," Griffin said. "There will be a lot of happy guys tomorrow because it's Thanksgiving, but today I think I'm the happiest guy in the building."

The Browns have 21 days to activate Robert Griffin III or the quarterback will return to injured reserve. AP Photo/Matt Rourke

Griffin will not play in Sunday's game against the New York Giants. Coach Hue Jackson all but ruled him out on Monday, saying "right now it might be a little bit early" for Griffin to play.

"This is the first stage of this," Jackson said Wednesday. "We still have some hurdles to jump, so we'll get to them."

Griffin has been out since the season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles, when he broke the coracoid bone in his left shoulder. In that 29-10 loss, Griffin completed 12 of 26 passes for 190 yards and rushed for 37 yards.

Jackson said Griffin has one more test to pass before he can be cleared to fully take part in practice. Griffin said the test is simply to make sure the bone is fully healed. He said he will prepare as if he'll be back on the field in December.

"I just want to be able to be healthy and help this team win games," Griffin said. "Like I said, today was fun just to get back out there. The guys could feel the energy from me at least. Like a little kid out there with fresh legs. They were probably all telling me to slow down."

Griffin said he can still be the Browns' long-term answer at quarterback.

"I still feel I can be the guy for this organization, and I look forward to going out and proving it," he said.

He also shrugged off any concerns about his durability.

"I'm 26 years old man; I'm not 45," he said. "I've got a lot of football left."

Jackson said McCown will start this week. Rookie quarterback Cody Kessler suffered his second concussion of the season in a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.

Five quarterbacks -- Kessler, McCown, Griffin, Charlie Whitehurst and Kevin Hogan -- have played for the winless Browns (0-11) this season. Wide receiver Terrelle Pryor, a converted quarterback, has thrown nine passes, completing five.