Browns' Hardesty sidelined by torn calf muscle

BEREA, Ohio -- The Browns are running out of running backs. Montario Hardesty tore a calf muscle in Sunday's loss at San Francisco, leaving Cleveland with just one healthy running back on its current roster. Coach Pat Shurmur said Hardesty will be out an indefinite period. "It will be games," said Shurmur, adding Hardesty is wearing a protective boot. "It will take him a little time to heal up from this injury.

I can't tell you how many (games)." Hardesty, who missed his rookie season following knee surgery and was starting because Peyton Hillis is injured, was injured on Cleveland's second series. Hardesty was making his second straight start because Hillis missed his second straight game with a strained hamstring. Shurmur said Hillis, whose season has been a disaster with his ongoing contract situation and injuries, did some light running and is day-to-day. Shurmur said Hardesty has a "moderate tear of a medial gastrocnemius" muscle, the large muscle at the back of his lower leg. "Any doctors in here?" Shurmur joked, attempting to lighten the mood during his news conference. The Browns (3-4) will bring in running backs for tryouts Tuesday at the team's training facility, Shurmur said. Currently, Chris Ogbonnaya is the only healthy back on the team's 53-man roster. Ogbonnaya has been with the club for less than two weeks, signed off Houston's practice squad on Oct. 18. On Sunday, Ogbonnaya was pressed into duty and ran for 37 yards on 11 carries and caught five passes. If he had gotten hurt, fullback Owen Marecic was the club's only available option at tailback. If Hillis can't play this week, Ogbonnaya may have to start when the Browns visit the Texans (5-3). Hillis traveled with the team to San Francisco, but was ruled out shortly before kickoff. He returned to practice last Wednesday for the first time since getting hurt on Oct. 16, but was sore the following day. It's not immediately known which running backs the Browns will have in for workouts. Cleveland's medical issues in the backfield began during the exhibition season when Brandon Jackson was lost for the season with a toe injury. The Browns have rookie Armond Smith on the practice squad, and Shurmur said wide receiver Josh Cribbs could be used at running back, but that seems unlikely. Shurmur made it clear the Browns can't use injuries as an excuse. Those don't work in the NFL. "Well, our list of runners has increased," he said. "We like to think that we can still run the football. Whoever's running the ball, whoever's lining up at tailback will have that opportunity. We've sustained some injuries and we've had our first, second and third guy get hurt. We just have to keep playing. "I've told the team this too, once you make the first excuse, it's a slippery slope. There are no excuses. The task at hand now is getting the team back, ready to play Houston. No excuses and we've got to go down there with a plan to try to beat them, regardless of who's playing." Injuries are only compounding the Browns' offensive woes in Shurmur's first season. Cleveland has scored just 16 points the past two weeks, quarterback Colt McCoy is facing constant pressure up front and the Browns don't have enough playmakers to help their young QB. Without a legitimate running game, the Browns are having to throw more and they're having to do so while playing from behind. On Sunday, the 49ers, helped by a strip sack of McCoy on Cleveland's second play, jumped to a 10-0 lead in the first quarter. Through seven games, the Browns have been outscored 44-3 in the opening quarter. The Browns have tried to avoid falling behind early, but to this point nothing has worked. "Our slow starts hurt us and it affects coach's ability to call the game the way he wants to," said tight end Evan Moore. "We get behind early, like yesterday, you know a turnover in our own territory basically gives them seven points. When you get behind like that it makes it pretty tough. When you have a lead, when you can run the ball and control the game clock which we haven't had this year, it makes it a lot easier on coaches and playcallers "We've just got to do a better job of starting better. I know you guys have heard that a thousand times." Notes Nickel back Dimitri Patterson is awaiting results of an MRI taken on his injured left knee. Patterson, who was injured in the third quarter Sunday, said his knee felt stiff but he's confident it's not seriously injured. "It looked worse than it was," he said. ... Shurmur said starting LB Chris Gocong sustained a neck stinger. He missed the entire exhibition season with a similar injury. ... Shurmur had high praise for his defense, which limited the 49ers to less than 100 yards in the second half. Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

QB Whitehurst starts but gets pulled for Jackson

SEATTLE -- Seahawks coach Pete Carroll pulled a quarterback switcheroo Sunday, listing Tarvaris Jackson as the starter, but sending Charlie Whitehurst out for Seattle's first offensive series. Whitehurst's stint didn't last long, however, as Jackson entered the game with 10:41 left in the second quarter and the team already down 10-3 against the Cincinnati Bengals. Jackson was active after missing last week versus Cleveland with a chest pectoral injury. Whitehurst struggled in his place against the Browns, completing just 12 of 30 passes for 97 yards and an interception. The Seahawks lost 6-3.

Bengals tight end Jermaine Gresham, who was listed as probable on the final injury report, has a hamstring injury and is unable to go. He's one of two starters out for Cincinnati with starting middle linebacker Rey Maualuga already ruled out with an ankle injury. Seahawks wide receiver Mike Williams was a surprise inactive. There is no immediate word why Williams was scratched. He was a full participant in practice all week and wasn't listed on any injury report. Seattle is also thin in the secondary, with defensive backs Jeron Johnson, Kennard Cox and Ron Parker all inactive. Information from The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Heel injury sidelines Saints RB Ingram vs. Rams

As a result, the Saints will move running back Chris Ivory from the physically unable to perform list to the 53-man active roster, coach Sean Payton said Friday. The move swaps one leading rusher for another. Ingram leads the Saints with 329 yards and three touchdowns on 85 carries this season. Ivory, meanwhile, led the Saints in 2010 with 716 yards and five touchdowns. New Orleans must release a player to make room for Ivory, but hadn't announced a move as of Friday afternoon.

Ingram was unavailable for comment. Ivory said he had an idea early in the week that he would be activated but he wasn't sure until Friday. "After talking to coach, he wanted to make sure I knew everything as far as what plays I needed to know for this game and just the expectation of what we have going on," Ivory said. Despite spending the first seven weeks of the season on top of training camp on the PUP list, Ivory said he'll be ready and knows the offense. Ivory said that though he hasn't been hit or tackled yet, the physical aspect of the game won't take long to get used to, either. "Actually, after the first hit I'll be OK," Ivory said. "That's all it will take. And with pregame too I'll probably get a couple of thud hits and warm up. But I don't think it's going to take too long to get adjusted to the hits. I know I'll be sore afterwards. It's not going to take much to get adjusted to it." Game notes Tight end David Thomas (concussion) and right tackle Zach Strief (right knee) are questionable after being limited Friday. ... Linebacker Jonathan Vilma (left knee) and defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis (right ankle) were limited in practice and are listed as probable. Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

Out for a year, Pacman activated by Bengals

CINCINNATI -- Cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones was activated off an injury list on Friday, making him eligible for the Cincinnati Bengals' game in Seattle. Jones has been sidelined for approximately a year by a bulging disk in his neck that required two surgical procedures. He opened the season on an injury list, and was cleared to resume practice this week. He takes the roster spot of running back Cedric Benson, who is suspended for Sunday's game in Seattle because he violated the NFL's conduct policy. Jones was listed as questionable to play on Sunday, along with cornerback Morgan Trent, who has an ankle injury.

Jones was the Bengals' No. 3 cornerback last season. Starting cornerback Nate Clements was listed as probable with a sore knee. Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

Polian: Injuries, not coach, reason Colts 0-7

"How you evaluate (Caldwell) is what you do with what he has," Polian said. "You can't hold him responsible for injuries. You can't hold him responsible for an unforeseen surgery (to Manning) that no one anticipated would happen. The things that he can control, I think he's done a terrific job of, given where we are from a standpoint of personnel." The Colts (0-7) are coming off a 62-7 loss to the New Orleans Saints. Indyh is last in the NFL in total defense and have allowed the most points in the 32-team league.

Polian said he doesn't see an effort issue on defense, but wouldn't say what, or who, was the problem. "The players are playing hard, and it's hard for me to believe that Robert Mathis and Dwight Freeney and Pat Angerer and Kavell Conner, and people who, on and on -- Fili Moala -- people who have played well in the past have all of a sudden fallen off the cliff," Polian said. "That's not been the case. That isn't the case. So we've got to figure out what's wrong and get it corrected." Mike and Mike in the Morning ESPN NFL Insider Chris Mortensen says it is possible Colts QB Peyton Manning could request a trade if the team drafts Andrew Luck. Plus, Mortensen says NFL officials are calling too many penalties. More Podcasts " The Colts are one of three winless teams, along with Miami and St. Louis, who both are 0-6. Caldwell said he's not worried about where he stands with management. "There are no guarantees in this league, you know that," Caldwell said. "I have been around long enough to understand that every year is different, every year takes a lot of work and it's highly difficult. In terms of me personally, I don't get into all of that stuff. My personal feelings and all of those things don't matter. I'm more concerned about the guys that I coach, getting them to head in the right direction and trying to get this thing turned around. That's my impetus right now, that's my focus." There's one cure. "Winning at this point in time is extremely important," Caldwell said. "Any time of the season. Number one, we're measured by it. Number two, it's extremely important because when you've been struggling like our guys have, a win can work miracles. We need one." Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

Browns RB Hillis will start vs. 49ers if healthy

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

Redskins place RB Hightower, TE Cooley on IR

ASHBURN, Va. -- The Washington Redskins have placed tight end Chris Cooley and running back Tim Hightower on injured reserve. Cooley's season comes to an end because of a balky left knee and a broken left index finger. He had knee surgery at the end of last season and never fully recovered, then hurt his finger in the loss to Philadelphia on Oct. 16.

He had his knee re-examined in the wake of the finger surgery to determine whether he should return this season. Cooley caught eight passes for 65 yards, by far his worst season. Fred Davis has picked up the slack and become the Redskins' top passing game threat. Hightower tore the ACL in his left knee in Sunday's loss to Carolina. His season ends with 321 yards on 84 carries. Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press