Trent Richardson Injury: Cleveland Browns Must Adjust Rookie's Workload

The Cleveland Browns didn't even get to the regular season before a collective gasp surrounding their prized rookie running back Trent Richardson emitted from their training camp.

Richardson will have surgery on Thursday after Dr. James Andrews detected what ESPN.com describes as a "hang nail particle of loose cartilage that is irritating his left knee." Here's a snippet from ESPN reporter Chris Mortensen:

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The small particle, which has caused swelling, will be "cleaned up" by Dr. James Andrews after it was detected in an MRI. Dr. Andrews will do a final evaluation before he is expected to perform the minor surgery.

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There are worse things that could happen, but no one wants to see a first-round selection go down before their first regular season even starts. That disappointment increases tenfold if that coveted first-year player happens to be a running back.

Elite running backs simply don't grow on trees.

Healthy ball-carriers are even more rare. You can blame many teams' reluctance to draft a running back with a Top 10 NFL draft pick on that, and you can also look at the committee approach most teams take to their run game in today's NFL.

Let's look at the Browns specifically, though. Offensive coordinator Brad Childress is used to handling an All-Pro talent. He coached Adrian Peterson in Minnesota and he understands the toll a consistent run game can take on a runner.

That prior experience should make his next choice obvious. Childress, and the rest of the Browns' brass, must cutback on Richardson's touches.

Montario Hardesty isn't a proper No. 1 back, but he did run for 266 yards last season. No one will ever mistake him for Richardson, but he's good enough to split carries especially if Richardson's long-term health is on the line.

Mortensen's report does state that Cleveland should have its rookie back before its regular season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles, but that's not the point. No other position in the NFL puts the same physical demands on a player that running back does.

As strong as Richardson may be, he hasn't felt NFL-sized mammoths hit him week after week. Even if he were stronger or more experienced, nothing diminishes the inherent risk running backs face.

Mike Holmgren and the Browns' front office flipped four picks to Minnesota in the 2012 NFL draft to scoop up Richardson. It's impossible not to be excited about his tantalizing potential, but they must protect their long-term investment.

Losing Richardson would put Cleveland even further behind the eight-ball than they already are. Rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden doesn't need the extra focus on his play, and Holmgren's job doesn't need it either.

Cleveland hasn't lost Richardson to anything serious yet, but it should consider this a warning. Hopefully, for the Browns' sake, they adjust accordingly.