Promising Browns running back Montario Hardesty suffered a left knee injury Thursday in his first preseason appearance.
Expected to possibly start this year for Cleveland, Hardesty just returned to practice from a knee injury this week after missing all of training camp. He looked very strong on a few runs early against the Bears, running seven times for 25 yards and a touchdown before suffering the setback.
Hardesty sat on the ground for a while, and then was able to walk to the locker room under his own power. Hardesty had a long history of injuries in college that he hasn’t been able to shake.
Jerome Harrison, Peyton Hillis, and possibly James Davis figure to carry the load in Week One for the Browns if Hardesty is unable to go. Davis has topped 100 yards Thursday.