=== Griffin practices, may play Sunday ===
 
 Ashburn,  VA (Sports  Network) -  The Washington  Redskins received  some very
 encouraging  news regarding the availability of quarterback Robert Griffin III
 for  their upcoming game against the Cleveland Browns, as the rookie sensation
 was  back  practicing on Wednesday just  three days after injuring his knee in
 this past weekend's win over Baltimore.
 
 Griffin,  who suffered  a Grade I sprain of the lateral collateral ligament in
 his  right  knee during the fourth  quarter of Sunday's 31-28 overtime triumph
 over the Ravens, participated in non-contact drills during Wednesday's session
 and told reporters afterward his health is steadily improving.
 
 "It's gotten better every day, which is a positive sign for me," Griffin said.
 "Sunday  night, I  thought there probably was  no chance that I could play the
 next  week.  Then Monday  morning, I  felt better about  it. Yesterday, I felt
 better about it and today, I feel really good about it."
 
 While the Redskins won't make a determination on Griffin's status for Sunday's
 matchup with the Browns until later in the week, head coach Mike Shanahan said
 his young signal-caller would play if cleared to go.
 
 "We  will see  at the  end of  the week  if he  is full  speed, ready  to go,"
 Shanahan remarked. "If he is, he will play."
 
 Fellow  rookie Kirk  Cousins saw  increased reps  in Wednesday's  practice and
 would  draw his first  career start in the event Griffin is held out. The 2012
 fourth-round pick took over for a hobbled Griffin against the Ravens and threw
 a  touchdown pass to Pierre Garcon with 29 seconds left in regulation to bring
 the  Redskins  within 28-26, then ran  in the subsequent conversion attempt to
 force overtime.
 
 Griffin  has  started  every  game  this  season  for  Washington,  which  has
 vaulted  back  into  playoff  contention  in  the  NFC  by  ripping  off  four
 consecutive  victories, and is presently tied with New England's Tom Brady for
 the  NFL lead  with  a 104.2  passer  rating. The  22-year-old  also tops  all
 quarterbacks with 748 rushing yards and has thrown for 18 touchdowns with just
 four interceptions while completing 66.4 percent of his attempts.
 
 The  2011 Heisman  Trophy  recipient  has been  particularly  good during  the
 Redskins'  current  unbeaten run, having  amassed 10 touchdown passes and only
 one interception along with a 68.5 percent completion rate over that stretch.
 
 
 
 
 12/12 17:25:19 ET