Browns running back Trent Richardson is likely to practice early next week, which should give the rookie first-round pick just under three weeks to prepare for the regular-season opener Sept. 9 against the Eagles.
The team is hopeful Richardson will recover from Aug. 10 knee surgery in time for Week 1, but he has ground to make up physically and in his knowledge of the playbook.
“It’s probably going to be more of a challenge for him with the time missed, because it’s never easy and it’s particularly not easy when it’s a rookie,” offensive coordinator Brad Childress said. “There’s still a process that he’s got to go through, and he’s got time, but you know coaches; you want everybody to take every turn.
“I don’t think the structure of (the offense) will change appreciably. Maybe the number of turns that we’re calling a run might change a little bit, but that remains to be seen. I’d hate to get into any future hypotheticals or anything.”
Dr. James Andrews removed a piece of loose cartilage from Richardson’s left knee during an operation the morning the Browns opened the preseason in Detroit. Andrews also operated on Richardson’s left knee on Feb. 3 to repair a torn meniscus. The two surgeries are not related.
“He’s getting better, and when he’s ready he’ll be out,” coach Pat Shurmur said on Sunday, adding that Richardson was likely 10 days from practice. “But he’s here. He’s here all day long doing his thing, trying to get healthy.”
In the meantime, the Browns are leaning on Montario Hardesty to be their primary running back. Hardesty rushed for 16 yards on four carries against the Lions and 12 carries for 45 yards and a touchdown against the Packers. He also lost a fumble on the first play.
“I’m always ready for an opportunity to play, just like Brandon (Jacobs) and Chris (Ogbonnaya) are,” Hardesty said. “As a competitor, you always have to be on point. As a group, GB (running backs coach Gary Brown) has us prepared. We’ll be ready if it’s our time.”
It has taken three training camps for Hardesty to get to this point in his pro football life. Hardesty is running, darting cutting, and bouncing off tacklers like he never has since general manager Tom Heckert moved up in the second round of the 2010 draft to get him. The reason: He is finally healthy, with emphasis on the word finally.
“I put a lot of work into this season,” Hardesty said. “I want to show every day how I can play football and try to get better every day. This is the best I’ve felt since my last year at Tennessee.”
Hardesty was a risky pick because of a long injury history at the University of Tennessee. Sure enough, he suffered a bone bruise in the rookie portion of training camp before training camp actually began his rookie year. He had to sit out the first three preseason games and when he finally did get the chance to play he never made it past the first half before tearing his left ACL. On one run inside his season was wiped out.
Last season was better, but not by much. A calf injury cost him six games and affected him in two other games. He finished the season with 266 yards on 88 carries while starting in four games and playing in six others. His next touchdown will be his first in the NFL.
“Last year I came in still limping,” Hardesty said. “I never got over the hump. To come in healthy, I’m excited to show people what I can do. I feel like I have something to prove.
“I’m not thinking about my leg, I’m not thinking ‘If I do this, this might happen.’ I’m confident playing football again. I’m ready to play. I want to win. Trent and I and the other running backs can be big. We’re both competing against the defense, but we’re competing against each other. You can feel the energy in the room.”
Hardesty’s opportunities might be few once Richardson is healthy again. He said that is something he can’t control.
“I can only show what I can do in practice and in the preseason and in games,” Hardesty said. “When I’m in there, I have to make plays.”
The Browns were 30th in the league rushing last season. They scored an NFL fewest four rushing touchdowns.