Richardson will sit out minicamp

Associated Press

BEREA

Cleveland Browns running back Trent Richardson will not participate in any minicamp practices this week because of a lower right leg strain.

Coach Rob Chudzinski said the second-year pro is being held out of the three-day session “strictly as a precaution,” but should be ready for the start of training camp July 26. Richardson rushed for a team-high 950 yards and scored 12 touchdowns last season.

“We don’t want his muscle strain to get any worse, so we’re going to rest him now and give him a full summer to prepare,” Chudzinski said Tuesday following the first minicamp workout. “He could have went out, if necessary, and practiced these next few days, but we just didn’t see any sense in it.

“My expectation is he’ll be out there, ready to go, for us on the first day of training camp.”

Richardson, the third overall draft pick in 2012 out of Alabama, sat out Cleveland’s final set of organized team activities last week with the injury. At the time, he vowed, “Injury-prone is not going to be me.”

The Browns did not permit Richardson to speak with the media following practice, but said he would address the subject today. The 5-foot-9, 230-pound back walked off the field without a limp and did not acknowledge the reporters following him.

Chudzinski, though, did his best to downplay the severity of Richardson’s injury, which occurred in early May while running at Cleveland’s team headquarters.

“I don’t know the medical [risks going forward], but he’s got a strain right now,” the first-year coach said. “I’m not concerned about anything else at this stage. “My only concern, really, is Trent needing to stay into it mentally while he’s out. So far, he’s done a great job taking mental reps and getting into game shape.”

While his teammates ran position drills and 11-on-11 sets, Richardson alternated between riding the bike, lifting kettle bells and medicine balls, and working with exercise ropes.

Montario Hardesty and Chris Ogbonnaya lined up together in the backfield on Cleveland’s first-team offense, while Brandon Jackson and Dion Lewis worked with the lower units.

“This is a good opportunity for other guys to get extra reps right now,” Chudzinski said. “On April 1, I said this was a fresh start for everyone. I’m really pleased with the effort and energy I’ve seen from all of them so far.”

The 6-foot, 225-pound Hardesty served as Richardson’s backup in 2012, rushing for a career-high 271 yards and one touchdown. His 4.2-yard average per carry led the Browns, and was significantly higher than Richardson (3.6).