BEREA, Ohio -- The Browns signed Ben Tate as an unrestricted free agent running back to be their go to guy in the running game.
However, Tate came to the Browns with a question mark behind his name. Although, playing behind Arian Foster, Tate has had an injury history in his NFL career prior to joining the Browns. He missed his rookie season in 2010 with a broken leg and eight games over the next three seasons, including 2013 missing time with broken ribs. However, Tate did play through some with the broken ribs.
One of the reasons the Browns traded up to get Terrance West on draft day was to spell Tate, but be ready if Tate was to get injured.
Tate had six carries for 41 yards, including a 25-yard run before he was sideline with a knee injury midway through the second quarter.
West made his NFL debut in the first half and had just three carries for nine yards. However, West exploded in the second half for 91 yards on 13 carries after Tate left the game. Overall, he averaged 6.3 yards per carry. He was the first Browns running back to rush for 100 yards since Trent Richardson did so back in November of 2012.
Tate didn't play the remainder of the game and Mike Pettine has ruled him out for at least this week's game. Reports have said Tate will miss up to a month with a sprained knee.
"Terrance will start the (Saints) game," Pettine said. "And (Isaiah) Crowell will be the complement."
West is excited for the opportunity.
"It feels great," he said. "I go into every game always being prepared and it starts with a good week of practice.
"I'm up for the challenge."
Saints coach Sean Payton was impressed with West's production against the Steelers.
"Terrance West steps in and picks up 100 yards and puts them in a position to win the game," Payton said. "You see the vision and (he) runs with good pad level. My first experience with Terrance West was I saw him playing my alma mater Eastern Illinois on ESPN2 last year and he ran very well."
When West was told that Payton said he had 310 yards, West quickly set the record straight.
"I had 354 yards and five touchdowns," West said. "It was in the snow and I just watched LeSean McCoy score about three touchdowns in the snow just before that."
Both West and Crowell are rookies, as is third running back Glenn Winston and fullback Ray Agnew.
Pettine also said "There's a chance we could go with two backs."
Pettine said he's undaunted if the entire group carrying the ball are rookies.
"We like the guys that we have and that's part of coaching," he said. "That's why we get paid."
Pettine was asked how West and Crowell did on third down in protection.
"They were solid. I don't know how much their rules were tested," Pettine said. "A lot of times they'll be hesitant to get out because part of being a good third-down back, too, is knowing, 'Hey, I don't have to stay in. I can get out and be a part of the route."
Pettine said despite being 5-10, 225 pounds, West still has some moves.
"Terrance is more of a make you miss type of guy."
Pettine said Tate's injury history wasn't in the equation when the team formulated its roster and decided to let veterans Dion Lewis and Chris Ogbonnaya go and go with rookies.
"(Tate's injury history) wasn't in the conversation," Pettine said. "But, it's just like any other position, in this league, you have to have quality depth.
"It's already being demonstrated going into Week Two," he said. "Potentially, down a guy at tight end, potentially down a guy at outside linebacker, depending how the week goes. Definitely down one running back. That's life in the NFL."
Pettine was happy with the play of West and Crowell, but he's looking for more from the duo.
"It was encouraging, but they need to be able to take the next step, and this will be another challenge for them," Pettine said. "To go against this type of defense that neither one of those guys have seen before. It'll be a good test for them, but I think (Browns running backs coach) Wilbert's (Montgomery) done a good job with that group. They we're obviously prepared for the Pittsburgh game to step in and play, and hopefully it'll be more of the same this week."
Pettine was asked what the next step was.
"Just be a complete back, make the right read, finish runs," Pettine said. "I thought Crowell finished some runs better than West did, and I thought that was a good lesson for West to learn. You can't hit a home run every play in the NFL, that there will be some times where, 'Hey, put your head down and take three yards. Take four yards. Take five.' Know how to finish a run.
"I think that's -- running backs, they take a lot of punishment at the end of runs, and I think the ones that last a long time in this league, that are successful, know when to kind of get their shoulders turned the right way and knife forward for a couple more yards and finish a run," he said. "I'll go back on what I always say: no substitute for live game reps. We're going to get guys out there and get them some more experience."
West said he knows what Pettine means.
"When there's nothing there, get what they give you," he said. "I try to score on every play, but stay on track and take what they give you."
Pettine is confident that West will learn with more experience.
"I'll go back on what I always say, that there is no substitute for live game reps," he said. "We're going to get those guys out there and get them some more experience."
EXTRA POINTS
Concern for Cameron: Pettine was asked if TE Jordan Cameron re-injured the AC joint that he sprained during training camp.
"I'm not going to get into the medical specifics of it," Pettine said. "He took a pretty good shot. From what I've been told, I don't think it's a chronic thing, so I don't know whether it's just a coincidence that it's the same one or a repeat of the old injury. I just don't have the feel for that yet."
Cameron said he had an MRI and there was no structural damage to the shoulder and he's hopeful he will be able to play Sunday.
"It is a similar injury," he said. "I trust the trainers."
The Browns added a player they hope can fill Cameron's role if he is unable to play for any period of time.
Gerell Robinson (6-3, 220) is officially in his first NFL season out of Arizona State. He was originally signed by the Broncos as an undrafted free agent, Robinson spent part of the 2012 season on Arizona's practice squad and all of 2013 and Week 1 of the 2014 season on Denver's practice squad.
"Robinson is a converted wide out," Pettine said. "We feel like we have two pretty good blocking tight ends in (TE Gary) Barnidge and (TE Jim) Dray. I thought they did a solid job in the game. Also, they weren't just...it wasn't like having a third tackle. They were both more than functional in the pass game -- caught the balls that were thrown to them, got open, ran the right route. They were dependable. The reason that Jordan separated himself from that group was just a different skill set -- to have a guy who's more of an athlete, can stretch the field.
"That's the type we were looking for, and that's what Robinson, we hope, can bring to us is a guy who has wide receiver type skills, yet he's still functional in the run game if he does have to block. He's not just a wide receiver."
As a wide receiver as Arizona State, Robinson recorded 135 receptions for 2,071 yards and 12 touchdowns in 47 games.
Pettine said that Barnidge and Dray are similar and wouldn't say who would start if Cameron doesn't play.
"It depends on personnel grouping, we have both groupings and it depends on how Kyle (Shanahan) wants to open the game as far is who is out there."
Bryant, McQuistan Back: DL Desmond Bryant and OL Paul McQuistan returned to practice Wednesday and both are hopeful of playing this week.
Bryant had surgery on his wrist during the preseason and Pettine said he would take part in the team portion of practice.
"I think that helps us, certainly from a pass rush standpoint," Pettine said. "This is a good week to get him back. The Saints do run the ball effectively. At the same time, they go as their pass game goes. It'll be important to have...just anytime you can have fresh legs out there as a pass rusher, especially as the game gets going on, as the reps pile up...a lot of games are won and lost in the fourth quarter based on how you rushed the passer."
Bryant is thrilled to be back on the field.
"It's a great feeling to be back out there," he said. "It's been a long time coming."
Pettine also said he is hopeful that DL John Hughes, who has been sidelined with a hamstring will return. He was on the stationary bike during the open part of practice.
"(It's) wait and see mode with John Hughes," he said. "Hopefully, we'll get him back later this week."
McQuistan was back practicing. Currently, the Browns have just seven offensive linemen after releasing OL Ryan Seymour. Bryant, Hughes and McQuistan all didn't play last Sunday against the Steelers.
Thomas Excused: OL Joe Thomas missed practice for personal reasons and the Browns said he was excused. Thomas and his wife were expecting a baby that was due any time soon.
Mingo Misses: OLB Barkevious Mingo was listed as limited on the injury report with a shoulder injury. He was not seen on the field during the portion of practice open to the media.
If Mingo can't play, it is expected that OLB Jabaal Sheard will step into the starting lineup in Mingo's place.
"I'll try to step up and do my job."
Mingo was injured against the Steelers and did not register any tackles in the game.
Pettine Explains Berry Release: On Monday, Pettine mentioned DB Aaron Berry as a guy that possibly would get some of the reps that rookie CB Justin Gilbert was getting when Pettine said they might 'scale back' some of his reps.
However, Pettine said with injuries starting to mount, they couldn't keep 12 defensive backs on the roster.
"It's an unfortunate thing," Pettine said. "That was one position where we had a surplus and when injuries happen and you have to free up a roster spot, you're going to look at positions where you have a surplus. In the overall scheme of things, we felt it was the move to make."
Pettine mentioned undrafted rookie free agents K'Wuan Williams and Robert Nelson as possible replacements. They also have fourth-round draft pick Pierre Desir, who missed last week's game with a knee injury. He was back at practice Wednesday.
Pettine was asked if he still plans to limit some of Gilbert's reps.
"Yes and no," he said. "I still don't want to give him the percentage of reps he got. But we still have young guys in K'Waun and Nelson. We feel good about that they will likely get some reps, as well. If it turns into (passing) type of game, it's safe to say to say every defensive back up for the game."
