BEREA, Ohio (AP) — Cleveland Browns starting safety T.J. Ward missed practice to visit the dentist because of a “crazy” tooth problem.
Ward showed up at the team’s training facility Monday with a swollen face. Coach Pat Shurmur joked that it looked as if Ward had been punched. Shurmur did not know how long Ward, who led the team with 105 tackles as a rookie last season, would be out.
Running back Montario Hardesty took part in drills after being sidelined most of the past two weeks in his comeback from knee surgery. Hardesty does not if he’ll be able to play Friday against Detroit.
Shurmur said tight end Ben Watson (hamstring) and linebacker Scott Fujita (thigh) were kept out for precautionary reasons.
Also, Shurmur said offensive guard Billy Yates may retire. He made two starts in 2010.
