Cleveland Browns coach head coach Eric Mangini expects running back Jerome Harrison to "seize the opportunity" to be the number one man in the Cleveland backfield and "run with it."

Harrison will be the most productive of Cleveland's backs, but Peyton Hillis and James Davis will also see some playing time.

Further tests revealed what initial tests showed: Browns rookie RB Montario Hardesty has a torn ACL. Out for year.

This is a huge blow for the Browns, who were counting on rookie Hardesty to assume a feature back role at some point this season. Jerome Harrison will get a large bump in the next release of the rankings, along with Peyton Hillis and James Davis. Chris Jennings will now make the roster.

Browns RB James Davis, who gained 66 yards off 15 rushes last night, tweaked his ankle at the end of the game.

Despite rolling his ankle, Davis could open the season as the Browns' No. 2 running back behind Jerome Harrison.

The Browns close out their preseason tonight with an 8 p.m. home game against the Chicago Bears. Rookie running back Montario Hardesty will make his long-awaited game debut.

If he has a good showing tonight, should he be the starter against Tampa Bay on Sept. 12?

Plain Dealer Browns reporter Mary Kay Cabot, says she expects Jerome Harrison to start, as Hardesty hasn't had enough game experience to be thrown into an NFL regular-season game so quickly.

QBs
Jake Delhomme’s preseason passer rating is 110.5. He is fourth in the NFL behind Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady and Kyle Orton.

Seneca Wallace’s passer rating is high, 103.0, even though he has completed just half of his 26 passes. He benefits from averaging 8.8 yards per passing attempt (Delhomme is at 7.2) and a 3-to-1 touchdowns-to-interceptions ratio.

Through three games, the Browns lead their opponents 703-542 in passing yards. In the 2010 regular season, opponents led the Browns 3,915-2,076.

Delhomme was sharp in preseason game No. 3, going 20-of-25 for 152 yards, a touchdown and a 105.3 rating. That encouraging work is tempered by this bit of recent history: In his third preseason game last year, Brady Quinn went 11-of-15 for 128 yards, a touchdown and a 121.0 rating in a win over Tennessee.

RBs
Jerome Harrison has rushed 23 times for 72 yards. He is not concerned about his 3.1 per-carry average.

“I’m where I want to be,” he said, “besides the fumble.”

He was talking about a fumble that was recovered and returned for a touchdown Saturday. He also lost a fumble in the previous game.

Peyton Hillis leads the Browns in carries with 21. He is averaging 3.8 yards. James Davis has averaged 3.4 yards on 11 carries.

The Browns are looking for a back who can average closer to 4.5. That is one reason they are eager to get rookie Round 2 pick Montario Hardesty in a preseason game. He has missed the first three games but has not been ruled out of Thursday’s game against Chicago.

Cleveland running back Jerome Harrison promised Saturday that he'll get his fumbling issue fixed - and soon.

"It's definitely not a part of my game," the Browns' starting running back said. "I definitely don't want it. I just have to be more conscious of it and get back to [protecting the ball]. But I'm not worried about it. It's something I've never been big on doing and I'll definitely get it fixed before [the opener] comes around."

Harrison put the ball on the ground twice in the driving rain last week against St. Louis and then fumbled Sunday in Detroit with 3:40 left in the first half. Chris Houston recovered and scored on a 14-yard return to pull Detroit to within 17-14.

Browns coach Eric Mangini talked to Harrison about the fumble at halftime. The Browns' three errors in the game all led to TDs.

"It's got to get better," said Mangini. "When you have the ball in your hands, you have the whole team in your hands and there's no statistic that determines the outcome of games more than turnovers."

Harrison gained 34 yards on 11 carries. It was consistent with his preseason totals: 23 carries for 72 yards for a 3.1 average. He hasn't yet produced like the Harrison who ran for 561 yards over the final three games of last season.

Just another reminder that Montario Hardesty has an excellent chance to be the number one back in Cleveland when he gets on the field.

Montario Hardesty could still be ready for the opener Sept. 12 in Tampa, even though the Browns' rookie running back has missed all of training camp and most likely will skip Saturday's dress rehearsal game in Detroit with a sprained right knee.

"Yes, I would him expect him to [be ready for the season]," said coach Eric Mangini. "There's been no setback. Based on the plan that we had and the progress that he has made, my anticipation is that he'll be practicing again in the near future and ideally playing in the opener."

He said Hardesty might get some practice reps late this week, "but it's subject to change."

Hardesty is expected to sit out Saturday's game, in which starters normally play through the third quarter. For the final preseason game Sept. 2 against the Bears, starters usually only play a series or two, but the Browns are hoping it's a chance to get Hardesty some live action before the season begins.

Hardesty suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament on the same knee as a freshman in 2005 and had it drained last season. But he didn't miss any games in 2009, rushing for 1,345 yards and 13 TDs and catching 25 passes for 302 yards. With Hardesty out, Peyton Hillis is leading the team with 54 yards on 14 carries and Jerome Harrison is second with 38 yards on 12 carries.

Cleveland Browns rookie running back Montario Hardesty could still be ready for the opener Sept. 12 in Tampa, even though Hardesty has missed all of training camp and most likely will skip Saturday's dress rehearsal game in Detroit with a sprained right knee.

"Yes, I would him expect him to [be ready for the season]," said coach Eric Mangini. "There's been no setback. Based on the plan that we had and the progress that he has made, my anticipation is that he'll be practicing again in the near future and ideally playing in the opener."

He said Hardesty might get some practice reps late this week, "but it's subject to change."

Hardesty is expected to sit out Saturday's game, in which starters normally play through the third quarter. For the final preseason game Sept. 2 against the Bears, starters usually only play a series or two, but the Browns are hoping it's a chance to get Hardesty some live action before the season begins.

Hardesty suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament on the same knee as a freshman in 2005 and had it drained last season. But he didn't miss any games in 2009, rushing for 1,345 yards and 13 TDs and catching 25 passes for 302 yards. With Hardesty out, Peyton Hillis is leading the team with 54 yards on 14 carries and Jerome Harrison is second with 38 yards on 12 carries.

The first preseason game of a new year always is notable because it's the first time NFL coaches are required to post a depth chart.

Here is what Browns coach Eric Mangini turned in as his team's first official depth chart:

Offense: WR Mohamed Massaquoi, LT Joe Thomas, LG Eric Steinbach, C Alex Mack, RG Floyd Womack, RT John St. Clair, TE Benjamin Watson, WR Brian Robiskie, QB Jake Delhomme, FB Lawrence Vickers, RB Jerome Harrison.

Defense: LE Robaire Smith, NT Ahytba Rubin, RE Kenyon Coleman, OLB Matt Roth, ILB D'Qwell Jackson, ILB Chris Gocong, OLB Scott Fujita, LCB Eric Wright, RCB Sheldon Brown, S Abram Elam, S T.J. Ward.

Interesting news that Josh Cribbs is listed behind Robiskie at one WR spot.

Browns rookie RB Montario Hardesty twisted his knee before camp opened and will miss a few weeks.

This will hamper Hardesty's chances of taking over Cleveland's lead role from Jerome Harrison. Fantasy owners will need to monitor his recovery, as the sooner he gets back, the better.