BEREA, Ohio -- After showing enough progress to satisfy Browns medical staff and coaches, running back Trent Richardson trotted onto the practices fields Monday and passed the eye test administered by curious teammates. 
The rookie participated in team drills, earned reps with the first-team offense and ran fluidly, exhibiting no sign of a limp, in practicing for the first time since undergoing an arthroscopic procedure on his left knee Aug. 9.
"Trent looked like he did when he first got here," linebacker D'Qwell Jackson said.
Added defensive end Jabaal Sheard: "He looks right where he was when he left off. . . . I can't wait to see him in pads."
If Richardson can make it through the week without any setbacks -- the team will be hitting in pads Thursday -- he's likely to play in the season opener against Philadelphia on Sunday.
It's hard to imagine a player who didn't appear in one exhibition game would be at full strength even as he engaged in light contact work behind the scenes. His conditioning level figures to be a factor, especially in a game in which he'd be making his NFL debut.
But coach Pat Shurmur said if Richardson is fit to play, he will start against the Eagles. The No. 3 overall draft pick, wearing a protective rubber sleeve over the knee, split first-team reps Monday with Montario Hardesty and Brandon Jackson.
"I knew he'd be out here today, and he did a good job," Shurmur said. "It was his first day back in practice, so we did what we could do. Trent looked healthy running around."
Richardson did not speak to reporters. He's expected to address the media Wednesday.
Shurmur said Richardson's progression will be monitored daily. The running back had a small "flap" of loose cartilage removed from the knee by Dr. James Andrews in Alabama. He had the same knee scoped Feb. 3 to repair a torn meniscus suffered in Alabama's national championship win over LSU.
Team President Mike Holmgren acknowledged Monday the Browns were unaware at the draft Richardson would require a second procedure.
"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 doesn't expect the Browns to overload the running back in the season's first few weeks.
On a humid holiday morning, Richardson bypassed the stationary bikes on which he rode Saturday and rejoined his teammates on the practice field. Running backs coach Gary Brown went over blocking assignments with him and, at one point, Shurmur conferred with the 22-year-old individually.
A healthy Richardson could take tremendous pressure off quarterback and fellow rookie Brandon Weeden. Browns cornerback Joe Haden recalls from his college days what it's like to confront the 5-9, 230-pound back in the open field.
"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.
". . . He can be as good as he wants to be. He definitely can be an All-Pro. He has everything you want in a running back."
Haden watch: Haden said he still has "no idea" whether he will play in the opener because of a possible suspension for reportedly failing a drug test. The third-year pro said he couldn't discuss the matter.
Shurmur and Holmgren said they still have not heard a word about a potential four-game ban. It's unclear why the NFL has yet to rule on his eligibility. It's possible officials are weighing an appeal.
Holmgren believes it would be unfair for the league to wait until Friday to announce a suspension. Haden doesn't believe the issue has become a locker-room distraction.
"Everyone is cool," he said. "That's what I like about my teammates. It's like nothing's going on. Just keep practicing. We're like family basically."
Getting healty: Cornerback Dimitri Patterson (knee, ankle) and tight end Ben Watson (leg) said they expect to play Sunday. Watson missed the entire preseason, and Patterson was injured in the first game against Detroit as safety Ray Ventrone rolled onto his leg.
Quotebook: Watson, on a 53-man roster that features 15 rookies: "In this locker room, my 3-year-old is old."
Numerology: Four players changed their numbers. Receiver Josh Gordon switched to 13 from 86. It's the closest he could get to No. 12, Gordon said, which he wore in high school and college. Other changes are defensive end Billy Winn (90) and linebackers Craig Robertson (53) and L.J. Fort (58).
Brownies: Ventrone (hamstring) returned to practice. . . . Starting safety Eric Hagg was excused from practice due to illness. . . . Defensive end Brian Sanford rejoined the Browns after being signed to the eight-man practice squad. . . . The team cut linebacker Solomon Elimimian, who was waived by Minnesota.
http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2012/09/cleveland_running_back_trent_r.html
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