Kareem Hunt’s debut with the Browns has officially moved one step closer.

The running back has been permitted by the NFL to rejoin the team and begin practicing with them Monday.

Related players: Nick Chubb

Hunt will be allowed to return to game action in Week 10, when the Browns host the Buffalo Bills. Besides the suspension, Hunt is recovering from sports hernia surgery. Chubb should still be a safe fantasy play as he's fourth in rushing even after a bye week.

The Browns signed former Jets RB Elijah McGuire to their roster in advance of tonight’s game against the Jets, source said.

Related players: Dontrell HIlliard, Nick Chubb, D'Ernest Johnson

Hilliard is out with a concussion, a hit to backfield depth for the Browns, the tweet added. McGuire could see some time behind Chubb Monday night, but Johnson could also play as well. McGuire was mostly a pass-catching, change of pace option with the Jets the past few years.

Running backs coach Stump Mitchell praised Nick Chubb, who was arguably the MVP of training camp.

“I think he’s going to be special like he was last year," said Mitchell. “He’ll be used a little more in the passing game than he was last year. Nick just continues to improve on the skillset that he has, and I think he has a fantastic skillset."

More passing game work for Nick Chubb would be a huge boost to his fantasy potential. Chubb only had 31 receptions in four years at Georgia and then 20 last season with Cleveland. He did barely play early on with Hue Jackson at the helm, and when he did take over as the lead back, he averaged two receptions per game, which would have given him 32 in a full starting role. If he can build on that now that Duke Johnson is gone, we could hope for 40-50 receptions, but Kareem Hunt will also become a factor after his suspension is up.

Kareem Hunt, who looked explosive in spring practices, has clearly been embraced by his teammates. "That's my boy," said second-year running back Nick Chubb, who stands to lose some work when Hunt returns. "Kareem, he is really cool. He came in and we hit it off right away. Just picking up the playbook and having fun. He's a lot of fun to be around."

Hunt is on pace to be recovered from his groin injury and back at practice midweek. The Browns are still negotiating with the league about allowing Hunt to remain with the team during his eight-game suspension.

Don't hold your breath for a Duke Johnson trade anytime soon. Maybe around the midseason trade deadline.

Related players: Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt

The story went on to say if the team is in great health and Hunt is still on track to return, they make think about moving Johnson. But right now the Browns are about having as much veteran depth as possible right now.

NFL is suspending Browns’ RB Kareem Hunt for eight games for violating its personal conduct policy, league source tells ESPN.

Related players: Nick Chubb, Duke Johnson

Nick Chubb should post RB1 numbers for the first half of the season and probably longer, as the team begins to incorporate Hunt into the offense over the second half of the season. Duke Johnson remains in limbo, but he should serve as Chubb's primary backup while Hunt serves his suspension.

The Cleveland Browns signed troubled running back Kareem Hunt on Monday.

The Kansas City Chiefs released Hunt in December after a video surfaced that showed him shoving and kicking a woman last February at his residence in Cleveland.

Related players: Nick Chubb, Duke Johnson

Hunt joins an already talented backfield featuring Nick Chubb and Duke Johnson. Chubb was shaping up to be a top 10 pick at his position, though Hunt's arrival throws some cold water on Chubb's upside. Johnson was already being underutilized and speculation has already begun that the team may look to move him. At this point, we're assuming that Hunt will compete with Johnson for backup duties behind Chubb. Keep in mind that the NFL has yet to announce Hunt's suspension, so that will play a factor as well.

The Browns are getting back a fifth-round draft pick from Jacksonville in exchange for Carlos Hyde, per source. The Browns want to get more playing time for rookie Nick Chubb.

There is big news and then there is this. Where to start?

First off, Hyde probably sticks as an RB2 as long as Leonard Fournette is out. T.J. Yeldon will handle pass work, do the change-of-pace thing and see some early-down work, but his current status as the 10th highest scoring back in 2018 is coming to an end. Until we see exactly how the carry split will work, consider both RB2s with Hyde being more touchdown dependent and Yeldon having a higher floor. For Week 7, Yeldon is still a safe RB2 as Hyde won't be close to up to speed.

What happens with Fournette is the big wild-card. On the surface, it seems like the Jags wouldn't have made this move if they had confidence Fournette would be back soon, if at all this year. At the same time, Yeldon is an impending free agent and Hyde only cost a 5th round pick. That's a fairly small price to pay for somebody like Hyde who could easily slide in for Yeldon should he be elsewhere in 2019. We'd be careful about reading too much into the move until we get some sort of update on Fournette's status.

From the Browns point of view, this instantly thrusts Nick Chubb into Hyde's role (they have already announced him as the starter). So far this season, that has meant 114 carries, good for third in the NFL, behind only Ezekial Elliot and Todd Gurley. Unfortunately for Hyde owners, all that volume only led to him being the 17th highest scorer among running backs. Pro Football Focus' grade for Hyde backs this up, as he is 53rd among the 55 qualifying players at the position. Chubb doesn't have enough carries to qualify, but his current grade of 91.3 would be the best mark in the NFL if he did. The sample size is small, so take that with a grain of salt, but it does hint at his upside. The Browns face the sieve-like Buccaneers run defense this week, vaulting Chubb all the way into RB1 consideration. Should things go well on Sunday, he could maintain that status in our rest-of-season rankings.

Duke Johnson may or may not benefit from this move. He's been the forgotten man this year with only 33 touches, but we could see Cleveland leaning on him a little more as they break their rookie into the offense on a full-time basis. For now, we'd recommend adding Johnson but not starting him until we know more.

Nick Chubb, the Browns' second-round pick out of Georgia, had his first career 100-yard game in Oakland, despite carrying the ball only three times. He scored on touchdown runs of 63 and 41 yards, the latter putting the Browns up 42-34 with 4:20 left in the game.

"Unbelievable,'' said Jackson. "He has to get some. Hyde is playing well, but this guy is scoring touchdowns from long ways away. I was impressed. I watched those two touchdowns on tape (Monday), and they were even better than they were on the field. He ran away from some people on the first one and ran away from some people on the second one. It just looked natural and easy. He was gone. They could not touch him.

"He made a guy miss, broke a tackle. It was impressive. We have good backs. We know that. Sometimes it is going to be hit and miss where some other guy is making it happen and then the other guy goes in and does it.''

Related players: Carlos Hyde, Duke Johnson

Heading into the game, Chubb had only seven carries for 41 yards. On the season, he has only 10 carries compared to Carlos Hyde's 83. That will change, beginning Sunday against the Ravens, the story said. The story added the team will likely continue to use all three backs, but for Chubb to get more work it may mean Hyde loses some touches.