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CLEVELAND -- The Browns are playing it safe with Trent Richardson. Clevelands star running back will not play in the clubs exhibition opener on Thursday night against the St. Louis Rams as he continues to recover from an injured right shin. Richardson was accidentally kicked in the shin -- the same one he hurt during spring practice -- last week, and the Browns wont risk him hurting it further. "Were going to be smart," coach Rob Chudzinski said following Wednesdays practice, which was moved indoors because of heavy rain. Chudzinski said Richardson could have played if it was a regular-season game, but the Browns are being careful with the former first-round pick, who has had a history with injuries and played most of last season with two broken ribs. Chudzinski said he is not concerned about Richardsons durability. "Its the preseason, we have a plan of working him and making sure that he gets reps as needed out here in practice and we build him to be ready for the beginning of the season," Chudzinski said. Richardson did not play in any of Clevelands exhibition games a year ago, when he was recovering from minor knee surgery. He recently said one of his goals was to play in all four of Clevelands preseason games. Richardson took part in some drills on Wednesday, but was not on the field during team activities. Chudzinski said Richardson understands the reasons for the Browns keeping him out. Richardson rushed for 950 yards and caught 51 passes for 367 yards as a rookie. He played in 15 games, missing only the finale at Pittsburgh with an ankle injury sustained the previous week at Denver. Chudzinski said Dion Lewis will start in Richardsons spot. Also, starting strong safety T.J. Ward (hamstring) and starting guard Shawn Lauvao (ankle) will also sit out against the Rams. The Browns plan to play their starters for about one quarter, meaning quarterback Brandon Weeden will only have a few series to impress Clevelands coaching staff and maybe silence some critics who dont think hes Clevelands long-term answer at QB. Weeden has showed progress during training camp, and seems more comfortable with the Browns new offence. His goals against the Rams are pretty simple. "Just string together consecutive good plays, string together couple good drives, just get the feel of the game," he said. "Its a little different than practice, obviously theres going to be some emotions, theres going to be a lot more adrenaline and stuff like that. So I think its just put together a couple good drives and completions and just manage the game and do the things I need to do to move the ball up the field." The Browns defence has had the upper hand during recent practices, but Weeden feels Clevelands offence is starting to gel. "Were making strides," he said. "We have a long ways to go. I dont think were where we need to be. I think if you ask anybody, theyd all say the same thing, weve got a long ways to go. I still feel good about the guys we have. Im excited about the potential we have offensively. Once you get in the game and you get those live reps you can get a better understanding, because its tough when you go against your defence all the time and they have a pretty good idea what youre doing and you know what theyre doing. "So well see, but weve got some work to do." On defence, the Browns will get their first chance to unleash an aggressive scheme that has been installed by new co-ordinator Ray Horton, who spent the past two seasons in Arizona. Cornerback Joe Haden said the Browns are eager to go against another team, if for no other reason than to break up the monotony of training camp. "We just want to be able to hit somebody else besides our own teammates," Haden said. "Honestly, see how the scheme works. See how when were in practice and were blitzing against our offence and sometimes we get to the quarterback and have to back off. How it looks when you really just get to go all out and if the quarterback is really going to have to release it or if the offensive line is going to pick up the blocks. "Its going to be really good to see in a game-time situation how the blitzes really work." ---- NOTES: Rookie CB Leon McFadden (groin) and RB Montario Hardesty (hamstring) will also sit out the preseason opener. McFadden missed his first practice on Wednesday. ... Johnson Bademosi will start for Ward and Jason Pinkston will replace Lauvao at right guard. ... The Browns will honour Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown at their nationally televised Oct. 3 game against Buffalo. The team did not provide any specifics about the tribute but said "the event figures to be among the most singular memories in the teams rich timeline." Steve Pearce Jersey . 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Each of Houstons starters scored in double figures as the Rockets improved to 2-0 against the Spurs this season, with both victories coming on the road. They also moved within 3 1/2 games of San Antonio (22-7) for the lead the Southwest Division. COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State didnt wind up sweating the points that could have come off the board when a premature Oklahoma celebration was missed during Saturday nights contest.But the Buckeyes are fully aware of what they would be facing if one of their teammates was guilty of something similar.Coaches around the nation have a handful of recent examples of players casually dropping the football to the turf before officially scoring that they could show their teams as a reminder about the importance of maintaining possession all the way across the goal line. Those blunders have surprisingly become more common.But the rules are clear at Ohio State, and star quarterback J.T. Barrett didnt need the reminder -- even after seeing it happen up close.Yeah, heres the rule -- and we do have rules [for scoring], Barrett said with a laugh after practice on Wednesday. When you score, you hand the ball to an official and you go hug a big guy. Thats the rule. If anybody got away from that and dropped the ball before they crossed the end zone and the other team recovered it, I could only imagine what that day would be like for that man -- or the rest of the year -- with Coach [Urban] Meyer. I just couldnt tell you how awful that might be.I gave you the rules, but as for the consequences, God, I dont know. ... TThats a rough day at the office.ddddddddddddThe Sooners had a long night in the 45-24 loss the Buckeyes, even with the officials missing Joe Mixons fumble before he crossed the goal line for a touchdown on a kickoff return. Those points that shouldnt have been awarded were missed by the officials during the action, and there was no video review, even though replays showed Mixon no longer had possession before he headed into the end zone.A similar mistake nearly gave Texas a bonus possession and a chance to avoid an upset loss later that evening, after Cal running back Vic Enwere dropped the football before breaking the plane of the end zone. The officials determined there had been no immediate recovery of the ball afterward, leaving possession with the Golden Bears and the opportunity to run out the clock.But along with another similar play by Clemson, that makes three high-profile incidents already this season -- including the one the Buckeyes got to witness in person.We dont really talk about it, Ohio State H-back Curtis Samuel said.We make sure we keep the ball high and tight, and after you score, go give the ball to an official and hug a big guy. Thats what we do. ' ' '