Limited practice following knee surgery won't keep Urlacher out of Bears opener

Urlacher says his surgically repaired left knee will never be the same. (AP)

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- The Chicago Bears' defense has five starters 31 or older, and 34-year-old linebacker Brian Urlacher is coming off knee surgery a month ago.

They believe they have lost very little due to age, and say anyone who doubts it should test them.

"They can try," linebacker Lance Briggs said. "But they will fail."

Urlacher was held out of Thursday's practice, but the plan is to practice Friday and play Sunday in the opener against the Indianapolis Colts.

"He's had trouble with his knee so we're not going to push the knee through the week," coach Lovie Smith said.

Although Urlacher realizes his surgically repaired left knee will never be the same, he anticipates no diminished returns. The same goes for the "seasoned" Bears defense in general as preparations continued Thursday for Sunday's game at Soldier Field.

"I'm not up to speed," Urlacher said. "I know the defense well, but I've got to get my technique down and work on some things. I'm practicing, so that's all that really matters to me."

The Bears defense will face No. 1 draft pick Andrew Luck and the Colts. However, it may be the Colts testing Urlacher. It wouldn't be a surprise to see the Colts -- and other teams later in the season -- go at the middle of the Bears cover-2 zone to see if their 34-year-old defensive leader has lost a step.

Another 30-something, defensive end Israel Idonije, doubts Urlacher will be slowed against the pass or rush.

"If anyone is thinking that Brian is going to be a weak part of the defense, absolutely, run at him," Idonije said. "The guy, he's a physical specimen. He's worked hard to put himself into a position so he can be on the field, and just he is one of those guys who is relentless. If that's something they think they can exploit, by all means they're going to try. Then at the end of the day we'll see."

Urlacher said he and the other older players -- Briggs, Idonije, cornerback Charles Tillman, and defensive end Julius Peppers -- are better in the defense now even if age has taken away some of their speed.

"Whatever we have lost in athletic ability or speed or whatever, I think we make up for it with our mental game just like most players do when they get older," Urlacher said. "They get smarter as they play longer and hopefully get better as they get older."

Urlacher practiced only the first four days of training camp before experiencing left knee pain that required an Aug. 14 arthroscopic surgery. As a result, he missed all of the rest of training camp and the preseason, then practiced Monday and Wednesday this week.

"I knew I would get back before the first game," Urlacher said. "It was a matter of getting to this point. It really wasn't that frustrating. A little annoying when it happened, but once we did the scope it was fine."

Urlacher expects no limitations against the Colts.

"Every other game I have ever played I've planned on playing the whole game," he said. "That's what I plan on doing right now."

Urlacher's preparation might change somewhat prior to the Week 2 game against the Green Bay Packers. It's a Thursday night game so his recovery time from the first game would be short.

"I'll do the same thing I always do," he said. "Get in the cold tub a lot, ice, everything the trainers tell me to do. Try to keep my legs strong. Nothing more than normal. Probably a lot of rest next week with the short week. I have to get on the practice field eventually, but I think we only have one day of practice next week so I'll just be out there for that if I can."

Urlacher originally injured his knee in the 2011 regular-season finale. Several reports have said he went to Europe and underwent a non-invasive procedure on the knee, then relied on rehab to recover from two sprained ligaments. However, he ran into problems at training camp at Bourbonnais.

"I hadn't done that much in the offseason," Urlacher said. "I ran the whole month of June and July before I got to training camp. But nothing like we did in training camp and I think I kind of just aggravated it a little bit and got some things loose in there so we cleaned it out and now it's good."

Copyright 2012 by STATS LLC and The Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and The Associated Press is strictly prohibited.

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Browns RB Richardson back at practice following knee surgery

Trent Richardson, shown working out in June, is back on the Browns' practice fields. (US Presswire)

BEREA, Ohio -- Trent Richardson has practiced with the Browns. All that's left is for him to play.

Cleveland's rookie running back returned to practice Monday for the first time since undergoing knee surgery on Aug. 9, a strong sign he will play in Sunday's season opener at home against Philadelphia.

With his dreadlocks flowing out of his orange helmet, Richardson took some snaps with Cleveland's first-team offense during the portion of practice open to the media. He had a black rubber sleeve on his repaired left knee, which has been operated on twice since he helped Alabama win a national championship in January.

After the workout on a warm, humid morning, Browns coach Pat Shurmur sounded optimistic about Richardson's chances of facing the Eagles.

"If he's ready to go, he will be our starter," Shurmur said. "Trent looked good. He was in team [drills]. I knew he'd be out here and he did a good job. It was his first day back in practice, so we did what we could do. Trent looked healthy running around."

Shurmur wouldn't say when a decision will be made on Richardson making his pro debut.

"Each person is different when they come back from injury," he said. "We'll see as we go. All along I've been hopeful that he'd be there.'

The Browns will have their only practice in full pads this week on Thursday, when they will work primarily on short-yardage situations. Richardson missed Cleveland's four exhibition games and it will be important for him to take some hits before getting on the field against Philadelphia.

Richardson was not available for comment. A team spokesman said the 22-year-old will likely speak with reporters Wednesday.

The No. 3 overall pick in April's draft, Richardson had been doing rehab, including some light contact work, behind the scenes since his operation.

After stretching with his teammates, Richardson was taking part in some passing drills when Shurmur pulled him close for a brief chat, perhaps reminding his young star not to overdo it. Moments later, running backs coach Gary Brown called out a play and quizzed Richardson about his assignment.

"What's the key on the chip [block]," Brown asked before complimenting Richardson for answering correctly.

With low expectations for a team featuring 15 rookies and facing a brutal schedule, the Browns will need Richardson to take on a heavy workload this season. But because he missed so much time during the preseason, they will likely limit his carries in the first few weeks.

However, once Richardson is rolling, Browns cornerback Joe Haden said there may be no slowing him down.

"He can be as good as he wants to be," Haden said. "He can definitely be an All-Pro. He has everything you need to be a good running back. He's big, he can catch, he can pass block and he's an every-down back."

Haden said trying to bring down Richardson in the open field can be scary.

"Oh, man. I'm not a fan of trying to tackle him," Haden said. "I played against him with Florida and he gave me a stiff-arm one time and I was good after that."

Richardson had torn cartilage removed last month by renowned orthopedist Dr. James Andrews, who also did the Feb. 3 procedure on the knee.

Browns president Mike Holmgren said the team did not know Richardson would need a second operation when it drafted him.

"The first we knew about it was in camp," Holmgren said. "He's a hard-working guy. He started saying, 'It hurts. There's a little ache there.' It was swelling up a little bit. It's a good thing we caught it. It was obviously the right decision. Everything is on track.

Holmgren said the Browns intend to ease Richardson back and will not overload him in the first few games.

"When I've been in this situation before with players, when it's close, and we're really kind of counting on him, if he hadn't had the surgery, he was going to touch the ball a lot," he said. "But now you have to be careful. The worst thing we could do is rush him before he's ready. "

Notes

Haden said he couldn't talk about his possible NFL suspension for reportedly failing a drug test. Haden said, "I honestly don't know" when asked if he'll play in the opener. It's possible Haden is keeping quiet because he's appealing the suspension. Haden said his teammates have been supportive. "Everyone's cool," he said. "You just keep going, keep playing, keep practicing. With my teammates, it's like nothing has been going on." ... Starting S Eric Hagg was sent home before practice with stomach flu. ... TE Benjamin Watson expects to play in the opener despite missing most of the preseason with a leg injury. ... TE Jordan Cameron missed practice with an undisclosed injury. He was one of six players on exercise bikes. ... The Browns released LB Solomon Elimimian from the practice squad and re-signed DL Brian Sanford.

Copyright 2012 by STATS LLC and The Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and The Associated Press is strictly prohibited.

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Vikings' Peterson making progress after knee surgery but 'just not there yet'

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- Adrian Peterson isn't back to normal yet.

That's natural. The Minnesota Vikings star is merely six months removed from reconstructive surgery on his left knee, rehabilitating an injury that can take a year to return to full strength.

Peterson, though, is not a run-of-the-mill running back. He possesses a unique blend of fierce determination, perpetual optimism and seemingly superhuman strength, so if anyone can come back ahead of schedule and pick right up where he left off it's probably him.

His steady progress and lack of setbacks since tearing the anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments last Dec. 24 has only increased the expectations that he'll find a way to be on the field for the season opener Sept. 9 when the Vikings play host to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Peterson spoke to reporters during minicamp Wednesday, his usual upbeat attitude contradicting the dreariness of a rainy afternoon dominated by wide receiver Percy Harvin's request for a trade.

Harvin told Peterson recently he's cutting so well it's tough to tell he was injured.

"So that made me feel good," Peterson said.

But even Peterson had to put aside his utopian view for a few seconds and acknowledge the reality of his situation. There is still much work to be done.

"I know my body overall, and I know I'm just not there yet," Peterson said. "It's not terrible, but I'm not to where I know I need to be."

Training camp starts in five weeks.

"He really is on course and still doing well, but we need to see him be able to cut, be able to explode out of a cut and change direction without having any residual effects from that. Then the next step would be maybe putting shoulder pads on and seeing how he takes contact and seeing how he cuts when people come at him," head coach Leslie Frazier said, adding: "We're too far out right now to predict where we'll be five weeks from now."

Peterson declared himself "pretty much wide open" as far as his ability to go full speed in any type of drill, exercise or activity. But as Frazier noted, putting those pads on is another story. For now, he's continuing to try to restore strength in the muscles above and below the knee so they're back to pre-injury condition as well as practicing the kind of cuts, plants and pivots he'll have to perform without hesitation or limitation to return to All-Pro form.

"I'm doing as much as I can. I'll be talking to the coaches and whispering in their ears and trying to get out there as much as possible. But we'll see," he said.

Notes

LB Jasper Brinkley, in line to be the new starter at the middle spot, is being held out of minicamp because of a groin problem. He missed last season after hip surgery. Frazier said the injuries aren't related, but he again expressed concern about the team's depth at that position. "You can't make him go out there and practice if you know it's going to create some issues for him health-wise, but it does definitely make you concerned," Frazier said. ... WR Stephen Burton, a seventh-round draft pick last year who is in the mix for a roster spot, has pneumonia and won't practice anymore this week.

Copyright 2012 by STATS LLC and The Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and The Associated Press is strictly prohibited.

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Browns DT Taylor needs surgery to repair torn muscle in chest

BEREA, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns have a massive hole to plug on their defensive line.

Run-stopping tackle Phil Taylor will be out for months, and maybe for the season with a torn chest muscle.

Taylor tore his left pectoral muscle lifting weights Thursday and needs surgery, a potentially devastating blow to Cleveland's defense.

"He's going to miss a significant amount of time, more months than weeks," Browns coach Pat Shurmur said Friday as the team opened its three-day rookie minicamp. "It's too early to speculate how long that will be. It's just one of those things that happened.

"It's unfortunate. We feel bad for Phil, but he is in good spirits and he is going to come back from this thing stronger than ever."

Shurmur said Taylor, a first-round pick in 2011, will have surgery next week. He acknowledged Taylor's injury "could be" season-ending.

"It's too early to say right now in terms of the recovery," Shurmur said. "Everyone recovers at a different rate. Our guess is that he will be a fast healer, but he will require surgery."

Typically, torn pectoral muscles take at least sixth months to heal. Browns linebacker D'Qwell Jackson missed most of two seasons with the injury. Jackson had two surgeries but bounced back and led Cleveland in tackles last season.

Taylor, the No. 21 overall pick last year, started all 16 games as a rookie. He finished with 59 tackles, four sacks and the 6-foot-3, 335-pounder improved Cleveland's defensive front.

The Browns drafted Cincinnati defensive tackle John Hughes and Boise State's Billy Winn last month for depth, and the two may be needed sooner than the team envisioned.

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