Cleveland Browns’ Trent Richardson to Start Running Program in Two Weeks

Cleveland Browns running back Trent Richardson is hoping he will enter the 2013 NFL season 100 percent healthy and then remain healthy throughout, but first he needs to get back on the field following OTAs and minicamps. Richardson has been held out of minicamps with a right shin injury, but there is every indication inside of the organization that he will be ready by the start of training camp.

According to reports, Richardson fully expects to begin running drills within the next two weeks, which should put him back on track to be ready for the start of minicamp. However, he is going to have a meeting with Dr. James Andrews first.

From Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer:

"Richardson said the injury wasn’t serious enough to warrant an MRI, but I’m sure his surgeon, Dr. James Andrews, will examine the leg when Richardson is back in Pensacola, where Andrews has a clinic. Andrews has repaired both of Richardson’s ankles and has performed both scopes on his knee. He knows T-Rich better than any doctor, and will provide input on the training regimen and timetable. If the Browns decide to hold him out another week after camp opens just to be on the safe side, I don’t think that’s earth-shattering."

There will always be concerns about Richardson’s durability until he is able to go an extended period of time without an injury — no matter how minor it may be.

While Richardson could be on track for the start of training camp, it may be wise for the team to let their running back rest even longer.

There is no doubt that Richardson and the Browns expect him to be the workhorse back again in 2013, so he needs to be 100 percent heading in to the year. The Browns offense will already be without No. 1 wide receiver Josh Gordon for the first two weeks of the season because of a drug suspension, so they can ill afford a setback from their top back.