Browns kicker Phil Dawson, who has missed the past five games with a right calf injury, appears to have a good chance of playing Sunday in Chicago. He was listed as probable on the injury report.
Dawson kicked field goals during the first 30 minutes of practice open to the media Friday, a first since he was hurt in practice on Sept. 27.
It also seems to be a good sign that Dawson has been constantly checking the Weather Channel for Sunday's forecast.
"We’ll see. I’m optimistic," Dawson said after practice. "We'll talk to the doctors, the coaches will make the decision. No one will be more excited than I will be if I get the green light.
"I just want to play again. This sitting around watching is for the birds. To get a chance to be out there with my teammates is what I’m hoping to get accomplished."
Asked if he's 100 percent, Dawson said, "Who knows? I doubt very many guys in the locker room all feel 100 percent. I either get my job done or I don’t. It really doesn’t matter how I feel."
Dawson's replacement, Billy Cundiff, has gone 6 for 6 on field goals in Dawson's absence, but his longest is 31 yards.
Browns coach Eric Mangini has been optimistic about Dawson's status for weeks.
hopefully he'll be kicking lots of extra points instead of field goals!
How do field goal kickers get hurt. Another mysterious injury or another Browns player who just doesn't want to play for the Browns. A bunch of over paid under achieving pee wee football players.