When word emerged that Browns rookie running back Trent Richardson again needs surgery on a knee that needed surgery after the BCS national title game, any optimism surrounding the long-suffering franchise disappeared like the wind rushing out of a whoopie cushion.
But Richardson doesn’t have a torn ACL or any other serious knee problem (yet). He had arthoscopic surgery. And while enough of those procedures eventually will take out enough of the stuff that keeps the knee joint from working like two sticks being rubbed together in the hopes of starting a fire, Richardson will be back.
Soon.
That’s what coach Pat Shurmur said Sunday, via comments transcribed and distributed by the team.
“He’s getting better every day so his progress has been outstanding,” Shurmur said of the third overall pick in the 2012 draft. “I think he’s 10 days out now, so he’s about where we thought he’d be at this point, probably a little bit ahead of that. He’ll be out here soon.”
The good news (if there is any) is that Richardson’s absence has given 2010 second-round pick Montario Hardesty a chance to finally show what he can do. And the Browns will benefit from having both guys healthy and effective.
Or at any given time at least one of them.