Trent Richardson Reportedly Will Return When Browns Open Regular Season

The Cleveland Browns are reportedly expecting Trent Richardson to be healthy enough to play when the team faces the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 1. 

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter:

"

Browns first-round pick Trent Richardson is expected to play in Cleveland's regular-season opener vs. the Eagles, thou… say.ly/Oho428v

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 23, 2012"

Schefter continued, saying that the Browns are "likely going to limit his workload" for a while until he's healed enough to become the main man. 

Given the amount of time Richardson has spent off the field this summer, bringing him back before he's ready to carry the load seems like a risky move. Running backs and knees are tricky business. If Richardson is rushed back into action before he's fully healed, he might never live up to the lofty expectations the Browns have for him. 

The Browns desperately need Richardson to be healthy going forward. Everything they do this year on offense needs to be predicated on an effective running game. Brandon Weeden is a rookie quarterback, and the team's divisional rivals all feature strong defenses. 

Let's just hope Richardson is not being rushed back too quickly. Even if missing him for another week or two might mean the team loses one game it may have won, it's better to have him healthy in the long run than to win a game in 2012. 

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