The Sports Xchange

BEREA, Ohio — The Cleveland Browns’ running attack improved during last Sunday’s 30-27 loss to San Diego, and there are signs it should become even better.

Running back Robert Turbin, sidelined for the early part of the season because of an ankle injury, practiced with the team Wednesday and might play this week against the Baltimore Ravens.

If not then, he surely will be ready the following week against Denver.

The Browns’ running game showed promise in last Sunday’s loss to San Diego thanks to the development of rookie running back Duke Johnson, who caught nine passes for 85 yards and rushed for another 31 yards.

Isaiah Crowell broke loose on a 32-yard run, his longest carry of the season, and caught three passes for 53 yards.

Coach Mike Pettine said the Browns will not abandon their plan to be a run-oriented team and that emphasis began to reap rewards on Sunday against the Chargers.

Turbin is on the 53-man roster, but if he is deemed healthy the Browns could waive running back Shaun Draughn and activate a player from the practice squad — possibly inside linebacker Hayes Pullard III.

Draughn, who missed practice Wednesday because of a back injury, was the kick returner the first three games, but yielded that role to cornerback Justin Gilbert.

–One of the pleasant surprises of a disappointing season has been tight end Gary Barnidge.

Tight end seemed like a weak position after Jordan Cameron left for the Miami Dolphins in free agency, but Barnidge has taken up the slack. He is tied for the team lead with 16 catches.

“I’m fortunate that I got to play with Josh (McCown) back in Carolina when I was there, but it’s also the whole team because I think everybody has good chemistry with Josh, and we’re doing a good job,” Barnidge said. “Everybody’s getting everybody open.”

Barnidge’s 16 catches are a career high. He caught 13 in 2013 and 13 last year with the Browns.

–The Browns remain confident their defensive scheme is a sound one and good enough to confuse most NFL quarterbacks. It became an issue in San Diego when Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers said he knew what the coverages the Browns were in.

I’m pretty sure he’s seen a lot of things and schemes with defenses,” linebacker Chris Kirksey said. “When you have a guy at that caliber and a guy that has been playing for a while — he gets paid for what he does — he’s an elite quarterback. He’s going to see things that we’re doing. I don’t think that we are easy to read like that. We just have to execute our plays.”

–Jeff Triplette is scheduled to be the referee for the Browns-Ravens game. He will always be remembered by Browns fans as the referee who threw a penalty flag that somehow sailed through the facemask of the late Orlando Brown in 1999 in a game with Jacksonville and injured the left eye of the huge offensive lineman known as Zeus.

–The hero of the Browns’ only victory over the Ravens since 2007 is a forgotten man in Cleveland these days. Quarterback Jason Campbell, in his only season with the Browns, threw two touchdown passes to Davone Bess and one to Barnidge on Nov. 3, 2013, to lead the Browns past the Ravens, 24-18, in Cleveland.

Late in the first quarter, after his first touchdown pass to Bess, Campbell sustained a rib injury when he was squashed by former Ravens defensive lineman Haloti Ngata. He left the game temporarily but returned to complete the upset.

“They would have to drag me out of the game,” Campbell said at the time. “I wanted to stay out there with those guys and keep fighting. We talked all week about needing to get this win. I just thought the guys on both sides of the ball fought extremely hard.”

Campbell finished the season with 11 touchdown passes and eight interceptions.

NOTES: Among those who did not practice Monday were linebacker Craig Robertson (ankle) and coach Mike Pettine said it is unlikely Robertson will play against the Ravens; free safety Tashaun Gipson (ankle), wide receiver Brian Hartline (thigh), left tackle Joe Thomas (rest) and defensive end Randy Starks (rest). … Linebacker Scott Solomon (ankle) was limited in practice.