Will McFadden play Sunday against the Browns?

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ALAMEDA -- Darren McFadden was not having the best of seasons when he went down on Nov. 4 with a right high ankle sprain, averaging a career-low 3.3 yards per carry.And while he just started practicing again Wednesday for the first time since going down, McFadden was noncommittal about playing this weekend against Cleveland."I'm just working hard," McFadden said. "Whatever happens when Sunday gets here, I'm going to roll with it."The only thing I can do is go out there and play football. I don't know how it's going to be. I'm just going to go out there and do what I do every down and play ball."A year ago, when the Raiders ran a power-blocking scheme, McFadden looked like a league MVP candidate and he was leading the NFL in rushing when he was lost for the season in game seven with a Lisfranc injury to the right foot.He did not require surgery, though, and rehabbed accordingly coming into this season. But behind the returning zone-blocking scheme, McFadden struggled. Mightily.Then came the sprained ankle against Tampa Bay. Then practice this week.RELATED: McFadden returns to practice
"First of all, his energy on the field has been a positive," Raiders offensive coordinator Greg Knapp said of McFadden's return. "Sometimes if a guy comes off an injury and is still struggling a little bit, he's quiet and doesn't show much. But his energy has been great on the field and his attitude."He's been into the meetings. I do little pop-quizzes quite often in the meetings, and he's done a great job with that this week. He's shown us that he's, mentally, getting his mind to the spot of playing."But is his acclaimed burst up to snuff?"It's good, but not 100 percent yet," Knapp said. "He's definitely shown improvement from what was being displayed in front of the trainers for the past couple of weeks, which I didn't see as much. I did see improvement in Day One to Day Two, as far as progress for him."McFadden said he's just been "easing" back into the routine."I think there's still a little work I have to do," he said. "But for the most part, I'm getting back to being me."The "me" from last year, or the "me" of this season's first seven games?

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