Hardesty is close to return

Associated Press

BEREA

Most players wouldn’t mind skipping an NFL training camp with its grueling two-a-day practices under the sweltering summer sun.

Montario Hardesty hated missing his first one.

“It was real hard,” he said.

Speaking for the first time since injuring his right knee on the eve of camp, Cleveland’s rookie running back said Tuesday that he’s nearly ready to get back on the practice field and expects to be available when the Browns open the season on Sept. 12.

Hardesty revealed he suffered a bone bruise to his surgically repaired knee during a 1-on-1 tackling drill a few days before the club’s veterans reported. Hardesty said he was not injured by any contact but when he tried to cut on the grass.

At first, he was worried he had done serious damage to his knee, which was reconstructed in 2005 after he tore his anterior cruciate ligament.

“You always worry when you do something like that it’s going to be something big,” he said. “But once I went and got an MRI, and got everything looked at to see what it was, I just had to let the bruise heal. When it’s time, I’ll get back out there.”

Hardesty expects to practice later this week and is targeting the Browns’ final exhibition game on Sept. 2 as his pro debut.

The Browns believe Hardesty, a second-round pick, can have a large role in their offense this season. They see the former Tennessee back as a perfect compliment to Jerome Harrison.

Cleveland traded a third-round pick and two fifth-round selections to Philadelphia in April to move up and select Hardesty, who rushed for 1,345 yards and 13 touchdowns last season for the Volunteers.

Although he has missed significant time, Hardesty is confident he can catch up quickly.