BEREA — Browns wide receiver-in-training Terrelle Pryor is hoping he can finally overcome his right hamstring injury because it has been detrimental to his life on and off the field.
The injury has not only stalled Pryor’s attempt to transition from quarterback to receiver, but it also has prevented him from visiting his 1-year-old son in Pittsburgh on off days. Instead of making the short trip east, Pryor has had to stay at Browns headquarters to receive treatment on his hamstring.
“Not seeing my son, not being able to play football — a lot of people would go crazy,” Pryor said after Thursday’s practice. “I’m balancing that out.
“My competitive spirit’s at an all-time high. … I’m dedicated to coming back 100 percent and trying to get back as fast as possible.”
Pryor practiced this week after missing most of training camp with the injury. Browns coach Mike Pettine said the former Ohio State University standout took more reps Thursday, participating in individual and team drills, and whether he’ll play tonight in the third preseason game at Tampa Bay will be determined by how his hamstring responds to the increased workload.
The decision will ultimately be made by Pettine and the medical staff.
“I want to go, but it’s not my call,” Pryor said. “I’m not the professional in that area, and if I could make the decision, I’d go.”
Pryor suffered the injury Aug. 4, returned to action Aug. 15, then aggravated the injury Aug. 17 in a joint practice with the Buffalo Bills. He had been sidelined until he returned to practice Wednesday.
Pryor admitted he tried to push through pain to practice against the Bills, and it backfired.
“I was running full-speed straight ahead, and I was like ‘I feel pretty good,’ ” he said. “Then I got to Buffalo, and it tightened up. But when we got through the MRI, it ended up saying it was better the second time I did it than the first, so we were making big progress even though I had a second falloff. That’s positive news, and I feel a lot better today running routes. It didn’t really get tight on me or anything like that.”
All NFL teams must trim from 90 players to 75 by Tuesday, then to 53 by Sept. 5.
Pryor was asked whether he’s any less optimistic about his chances to make the 53-man roster than he was before the injury occurred.
“Not everybody’s going to be here for the Browns,” he said. “There’s a lot of talented guys, and they’re not all going to be here. I’ve been cut three times, four times. I know what it feels like and it is what it is. Would I like to be here? Absolutely. I know I could help this team and make plays for this team, but at the same time, I can’t control the decisions they make. That’s kind of on them, and I’m going to move forward whatever happens.”
Pryor insisted the injury isn’t “discouraging” him, adding the support of his coaches and teammates has motivated him through this tough time.
“It kind of puts some fire in you when people tell you they want to see you come out and practice and be with the team,” Pryor said. “ … I want to be out there with them so bad. I see guys make great catches, and I’m like, ‘Man, I can do that. I want to be out there making those plays.’ I think that’s where I’m at.”
Pettine and offensive coordinator John DeFilippo have said Pryor must get on the field and show them something to make the team.
“Whatever his job is on that play, do it. Do it to the best of his ability,” Pettine said. “We know he’s a project. We understand that. We’re not expecting him to go out there and light it up and catch 10 balls for 150 yards and two touchdowns. Just continue to get better.
“To just make that decision and come into a training camp and say, ‘Hey, I’m going to switch my position,’ our expectations weren’t real high for him by the end of training camp to be a viable player at wideout. We understand it’s a process. It’s just been unfortunate with the injury, the setbacks, that we haven’t been able to get as good of an evaluation as we wanted.”
Browns two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Joe Haden said he can envision another team picking up the 6-foot-4, 223-pound Pryor if the Browns cut him.
“I just can’t wait for him to go out there because he looks like [Detroit Lions star receiver] Calvin Johnson,” Haden said. “If he goes out and can play half like that, he’ll be solid.”
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