RB Hillis may play for Browns

Associated Press

BEREA

Peyton Hillis walked out of the Browns’ locker room Friday carrying a playbook under his right arm. On Sunday, he hopes he’s carrying a football.

At long last.

Cleveland’s besieged running back, who has missed the past six games with a severely strained left hamstring, could return to the field this week when the Browns (4-6) visit the Cincinnati Bengals (6-4). It’s a surprising development considering Browns coach Pat Shurmur ruled him out when the week began and Hillis did not practice Wednesday or Thursday.

But Hillis has made major progress in the past few days, and is on the brink of a long-awaited, and perhaps dramatic, return.

“I miss playing football,” he said. “It’s what I was brought up my whole life to do. I’m excited to get out there playing a game. I’m excited about winning games. I’m excited to see how I can play during this time. I’m excited I feel 100 percent again.”

Hillis, whose fall from stardom has been as abrupt as his rise, is ready to resume his stormy season.

“I’ve just got to find a way to overcome all of this and be the player I used to be,” he said.

Hillis practiced Friday for the first time since Nov. 4, when he re-injured his hamstring two days before a game in Houston. During the portion of practice open to the media, Hillis appeared to be fully healed. He carried the ball a few times, and near the end of the workout, Hillis caught a short pass and turned up field with a burst of speed.

Shurmur said it would be a game-time decision whether Hillis plays.

“Because he hasn’t played ball in a long time, I think it’s still important that I’m cautious with his return,” Shurmur said.

In addition to possibly having Hillis back, the Browns will have running back Montario Hardesty, who has missed the past three games with a calf injury.