Browns running back Trent Richardson assured fans today that his right leg muscle strain is no big deal and that he won’t be hampered by injuries this season.
“Injury-prone is not going to be me,” he said after organized team activities today. “It’s just a mindset and I know that’s not me.”
Richardson, who suffered the strain in practice last week, said this won’t be like last year, when he had a knee scope in training camp and then suffered broke ribs midseason.
“I know in my mind, everybody knows it’s not going to be near like last year being hurt and injury-(prone),” he said. “I can’t wait to get back up and running. (Missing time is) terrible, man.”
Richardson said the injury wasn’t enough of a concern to warrant an MRI. He said he could be practicing right now, but that the club wants to be extra cautious.
Coach Rob Chudzinski said Richardson is “coming along,” but that they’ll wait until next week to determine if he’ll participate in the mandatory minicamp Tuesday through Thursday. Last week, Chudzinski said there’s a chance they’ll hold Richardson out as a precautionary measure.
Richardson said he’ll visit with his orthopedic surgeon, world-renowned Dr. James Andrews, at his clinic in Pensacola, Fla., when Richardson is back home working out before training camp. Richardson visits with Andrews from time to time for checkups on previous injuries.
In other Browns news:
• Richardson said he’s honored to have Hall of Famer Jim Brown back in an official capacity with the club and is looking forward to having him around.
• Quarterbacks Brandon Weeden and Jason Campbell caught the wrath of offensive coordinator Norv Turner in practice today when they made mistakes, but they took it in stride. Turner yelled at Campbell for not throwing to his running back, and at a receiver for running the wrong route. “I’m used to it (from Oklahoma State),” Weeden said. “He coaches me every play and I can’t ask any more than that. He expects the highest level out of me and that’s what I want. He’s making me a better player. He apologized. He blew a gasket, but it’s going to happen. That’s football. You’ve got to be on your toes. You can’t mess up.”
• Weeden spent the weekend back in Oklahoma, where he helped out in tornado-ravaged Moore, where his wife, Melanie is from and where her family still lives. “It’s was worse than I had imagined,” said Weeden. “It’s bad. It’s going to take some time, but there’s a lot of people (helping).”
He said he went door-to-door asking people what they needed, and “threw on some gloves and got in the rubble and started sorting everything into piles.”
• Browns linebacker Paul Kruger was absent today because of a family obligation. His brother, Dave, was at practice.
• Defensive end Desmond Bryant, who missed last Thursday because of a legal matter, was back practicing.
• Tight end Jordan Cameron, who sat out last Thursday with a groin injury, was back in action.
• Others working off to the side today were safety Jamoris Slaughter, offensive lineman Chris Faulk, and receiver Jordan Norwood. Receiver David Nelson, who’s recovering from a torn ACL, has not been participating.
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