Hillis, who missed last week's game against Seattle with a strained hamstring, practiced Wednesday for the first time since getting hurt in Cleveland's Oct. 16 loss at Oakland. Since then, Browns president Mike Holmgren has said negotiations with Hillis on a contract extension have been put on hold. Browns coach Pat Shurmur said Hillis will start this week at San Francisco if he's healthy. Shurmur feels Hillis can put past distractions behind him and still have a productive season.
On Sunday, Montario Hardesty started for Hillis and ran for 95 yards on 33 carries, an amount Hillis would like to get. Hillis also missed Cleveland's Sept. 25 game against Miami with strep throat on the advice of his agent. Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press
