Trent Richardson said all along that he wouldn't allow a nagging rib injury to pull him off the field again. So far, so good.
The Cleveland Browns running back is active for Sunday's game against the San Diego Chargers, the team announced.
Richardson suffered a rib cartilage tear two weeks ago, and it rendered him ineffective in last Sunday's loss to the Indianapolis Colts. He practiced all week -- although he was limited through much of that work -- and Browns coach Pat Shurmur talked about giving Richardson a full workload against the Chargers if he's healthy.
San Diego's front seven is underrated. The Chargers rank second in the NFL against the run, promising a stiffer test than Richardson faced against the Bengals and Colts in recent weeks. The Cleveland back ranks 23rd in the NFL with 348 yards and four touchdowns on 103 carries. Richardson also has been a help in the passing game, with 24 catches for 197 yards and another score, but his contributions haven't been consistent from week-to-week. That has to do with his health.
Richardson hasn't been 100 percent at any point this season. A summer knee scope slowed him early, and the injuries keep coming. The Browns' offense will continue to struggle until Richardson is all the way back.
Follow Marc Sessler on Twitter @MarcSesslerNFL.
