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BEREA, Ohio (AP) -- Orange helmet in hand, Braylon Edwards burst through the glass doors of Browns headquarters and sprinted onto the practice field as if it was an NFL Sunday.
For Edwards, it felt like one.
Cleveland's second-year wide receiver, who underwent knee surgery in January and wasn't expected to be ready to play in games until October, unexpectedly returned to practice for the first time with the Browns on Saturday.
Edwards tore the anterior cruciate ligament while trying to make a catch against Jacksonville on Dec. 4, ending his rookie season and requiring him to undergo surgery on Jan. 3.
The Browns were hoping he would be back in nine months, and the club had targeted Sept. 1 as his return date for practice. However, the 6-foot-3, 212-pounder who was taken with the No. 3 overall selection in the 2005 draft, came back earlier than anyone expected.
"God forbid, if anything happens to our race and creed," Browns owner Randy Lerner said, "they should use his DNA to rebuild the population."
Edwards had to first pass a physical and be medically cleared by team doctors before he could practice. The Browns had placed the former Michigan star on the active physically unable to perform list when camp opened.
As Edwards ran onto the field, he was cheered by hundreds of Browns fans who never expected to see him so soon. Edwards' arrival helps soften the loss of center LeCharles Bentley, who suffered a season-ending knee injury during the first play of 11-on-11 drills on Thursday.
Edwards' return also meant the Browns could finally see him and Kellen Winslow, their top pick in 2004, on the field together. Winslow missed most of the past two seasons with serious leg injuries.
During the early stages of practice, Edwards and Winslow played catch and during a lull, Edwards heaved the ball toward the other side of the field trying to hit Winslow, who had turned his back for a moment.
The Browns are counting on the pair as targets for second-year quarterback Charlie Frye and to improve an offense that scored a league-low 232 points last season.
About midway through the workout, Edwards ran over and slapped hands with fans standing along one sideline.
Edwards won't be involved in any contact for some time, as the Browns will be cautious with him. He did take part in some team drills, and made his first catch of camp by hauling in a short pass from quarterback Ken Dorsey.
Edwards missed the first two weeks of training camp last summer in a contract holdout. The missed time put him behind and he didn't become a regular starter until midway through last season.
He finished with 32 catches for 512 yards and three touchdowns, two of them coming in the first half of the game he was hurt.
BEREA, Ohio (AP) -- Orange helmet in hand, Braylon Edwards burst through the glass doors of Browns headquarters and sprinted onto the practice field as if it was an NFL Sunday.
For Edwards, it felt like one.
Cleveland's second-year wide receiver, who underwent knee surgery in January and wasn't expected to be ready to play in games until October, unexpectedly returned to practice for the first time with the Browns on Saturday.
Edwards tore the anterior cruciate ligament while trying to make a catch against Jacksonville on Dec. 4, ending his rookie season and requiring him to undergo surgery on Jan. 3.
The Browns were hoping he would be back in nine months, and the club had targeted Sept. 1 as his return date for practice. However, the 6-foot-3, 212-pounder who was taken with the No. 3 overall selection in the 2005 draft, came back earlier than anyone expected.
"God forbid, if anything happens to our race and creed," Browns owner Randy Lerner said, "they should use his DNA to rebuild the population."
Edwards had to first pass a physical and be medically cleared by team doctors before he could practice. The Browns had placed the former Michigan star on the active physically unable to perform list when camp opened.
As Edwards ran onto the field, he was cheered by hundreds of Browns fans who never expected to see him so soon. Edwards' arrival helps soften the loss of center LeCharles Bentley, who suffered a season-ending knee injury during the first play of 11-on-11 drills on Thursday.
Edwards' return also meant the Browns could finally see him and Kellen Winslow, their top pick in 2004, on the field together. Winslow missed most of the past two seasons with serious leg injuries.
During the early stages of practice, Edwards and Winslow played catch and during a lull, Edwards heaved the ball toward the other side of the field trying to hit Winslow, who had turned his back for a moment.
The Browns are counting on the pair as targets for second-year quarterback Charlie Frye and to improve an offense that scored a league-low 232 points last season.
About midway through the workout, Edwards ran over and slapped hands with fans standing along one sideline.
Edwards won't be involved in any contact for some time, as the Browns will be cautious with him. He did take part in some team drills, and made his first catch of camp by hauling in a short pass from quarterback Ken Dorsey.
Edwards missed the first two weeks of training camp last summer in a contract holdout. The missed time put him behind and he didn't become a regular starter until midway through last season.
He finished with 32 catches for 512 yards and three touchdowns, two of them coming in the first half of the game he was hurt.
