Robert Turbin to make debut for Browns on Sunday against Denver

For the first time since he was claimed by the Cleveland Browns on September 10, running back Robert Turbin said following Thursday’s practice that he will make his debut for the orange and brown on Sunday against Denver. Turbin, who was claimed on waivers from the Seattle Seahawks (Browns waived Terrelle Pryor) just three days before the season opener, has been recovering from a high ankle sprain that he suffered in Seattle’s third preseason game.

The 5-foot-10, 222-pound bowling ball of a running back will bring a much needed spark to a struggling Cleveland backfield. Duke Johnson and Isaiah Crowell may be catching the ball well out of the backfield so far this season, but they yet to generate a reliable ground attack in any game this season.

Following Thursday’s practice, head coach Mike Pettine agreed that Turbin is finally 100 percent, or at least close to it.

“Yeah he looks good. He was close last week. I think in a pinch he could have gone but we wanted to get him 100% and I think he’s right close to that now, this week,” the head coach said of Turbin. But Pettine also admitted that, even though Turbin said he will play, the coaching staff will determine that at the end of the week.

“We’ll make that determination as the week winds down.”

Entering his fourth season in the NFL, Turbin (who has massive arms, by the way) was drafted by the Seahawks in the fourth round (106th overall) of the 2012 NFL Draft. He played in 48 games — all 16 games in each of his first three seasons — while with Seattle. The Utah State graduate tallied 231 carries for 928 yards, 43 receptions for 427 yards, and two touchdowns (both through the air) with the Seahawks.

With yet another running back that has shown that he has the ability to catch balls out of the backfield, Turbin and Johnson will likely see plenty of chances at catching passes from McCown from here on out.