Montario Hardesty injured at training camp

Running back Montario Hardesty hurt his thumb here, but now he'll undergo a knee scope and be out indefinitely.

BEREA, Ohio -- The good news for Montario Hardesty this week was that his injured right thumb wasn't broken, but dislocated. The bad news was that he'll undergo arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Thursday, and a source told cleveland.com that he'll miss the first two to three regular-season games.

It's the same knee in which Hardesty tore his anterior cruciate ligament in the final preseason game of 2010 and caused him to miss his entire rookie year.

Browns coach Rob Chudzinski delivered the surprising news of the scope after practice on Wednesday, when Hardesty was nowhere to be found on the field.

It probably also explains why Hardesty stalked into the fieldhouse Tuesday after practice with a frustrated look on his face. Observers assumed it was because he didn't want to answer questions about the dislocated right thumb, which was heavily padded and gloved. Or his hamstring tendon, which has caused him to miss most of the 17 training camp practices so far.

Such has been the star-crossed preseason for Hardesty, who worked hard in the off-season to build on a promising 2012 season.

But all is not lost. Browns coaches like Hardesty's running ability and believe he adds value. If he can get back in the expected four to six weeks, he still has a shot to remain on the 53-man roster.

"You just have to keep coming back and keep fighting and that theme (of dedication) we've talked about a lot, it applies everywhere,'' said Chudzinski. "He'll make it back.''

Chudzinski said Hardesty's knee had been troubling him in camp and the procedure is unrelated to the hamstring tendon that has plagued him. He called it just a clean-up and offered no timetable for Hardesty's return.

Chudzinski also declined to speculate on Hardesty's future.

"We'll just to see when he gets back and balance that with the other guys and how they're doing and how they've done in the next couple of weeks,'' he said.

Hardesty has a long injury history that includes a torn ACL in both knees and a torn calf muscle that caused him to miss half of the 2011 season.

He tore his right ACL his freshman year at Tennessee in 2005, and underwent a left knee scope after that season. But it didn't stop him from rushing for 1,345 yards and 13 touchdowns in his final Volunteer season in 2009. Former Browns GM Tom Heckert thought so much of Hardesty that he traded up into the second-round -- with Joe Banner's Eagles -- to get him.

When finally healthy last season, Hardesty gained 271 yards and scoring a TD in 65 attempts.

Dion Lewis has a chance to solidify his standing as the No. 2 back Thursday against the Lions, and Hardesty's issues increase Brandon Jackson's chances of making the roster.

"Dion's had a really good camp and shown some things he can do and Brandon Jackson can run the football and it will be good to get Trent (Richardson) out there,'' said Chudzinski. "(Chris) Ogbonnaya's shown his versatility in all areas, whether it's tailback or fullback.''

Left tackle Joe Thomas has watched Hardesty battle injuries since early on in his rookie year.

"Hopefully he’ll be able to bounce back quick,'' Thomas said. "He’s had a few knee surgeries, so I think he knows what the rehab process is, and obviously we want to get him out there quick because when he was out there for us last year he did a great job.''

Of Lewis, Thomas said "he did a great job in the first preseason game, and obviously with him and Trent and Obi, it's a nice little depth chart there. They’ll be able to pick up the slack nicely.''

Linebacker D'Qwell Jackson, who dealt with torn pectoral muscles in consecutive seasons, stressed that attitude is everything.

"Once he has the surgery, it's just one day at a time, just trying to stay positive and look at the outcome of how you can make the situation better,'' Jackson said. "But it starts with the attitude. It's going to help the healing process and it's going to help him mentally get through it and what I would tell him is to keep good people around him just so he stays motivated and stays with a positive outlook."

Hardesty's surgery coincides with Richardson (shin) returning to action and playing in his first preseason game in his two seasons.

"Obviously he’s tremendously gifted but the plays that we run, we need to be in sync with what he’s doing behind us, and you can’t just plug somebody in there and just expect him to know where the reads are and the cuts and how we’re blocking every play,'' said Thomas. "So having live reps with him back there is going to be tremendously helpful."