BEREA — Quarterback Derek Anderson dropped back, looked left and fired.
Receiver Braylon Edwards lined up wide left, ran a quick slant and snagged the bullet out of the air with two hands.
The Pro Bowl combination that set a franchise record with 16 touchdown passes last year returned to practice Monday after weeks on the shelf.
“I missed y’all, man,” Edwards said as he joined his teammates.
The Browns host the Cowboys on Sunday in the opener, and now is the time for the stars to align.
“I’m glad to see those guys back,” cornerback Brandon McDonald said. “I know they’re going to help us right away. They’re back now, so that’s all that matters.”
The only star missing was running back Jamal Lewis, who has a hamstring injury. The team is optimistic he’ll practice Wednesday and be ready Sunday.
Linebackers Willie McGinest (groin) and Antwan Peek (knee) and safety Sean Jones (knee) returned to practice and are expected to be ready for the Cowboys. Safety Brodney Pool (concussion, questionable) and guard Rex Hadnot (knee, out) didn’t practice. Guard Ryan Tucker (hip) practiced in a limited basis for the first time this season but isn’t expected to play Sunday.
Kick returner Joshua Cribbs (high ankle sprain) participated with the first team in a special teams walkthrough, then went inside. He’s out of a walking boot, but said the team is being cautious and he’ll be a game-time decision.
Neither Anderson nor Edwards talked to reporters, and haven’t since their injuries. The team said they’d talk Wednesday — today is an off day — because it wanted them to go through a practice first.
The media were allowed to watch the first half-hour of practice, and Anderson and Edwards looked like their normal selves despite the layoffs. Edwards hasn’t practiced since sustaining a gash on his foot Aug. 9, and Anderson suffered a concussion Aug. 18.
Anderson didn’t wear sunglasses or a shield on his helmet. He threw the ball as hard as ever and sprinted to the adjacent field after stretching. He joked with tight end Steve Heiden and took snaps from starting center Hank Fraley.
Coach Romeo Crennel stopped short of saying Anderson would start versus the Cowboys, but that’s the expectation.
“If he can handle himself today, the possibility is greater,” Crennel said. “I think (the doctors) need to see that he can handle the sunlight, which is pretty bright out today, that he can handle the verbiage of the offense, be able to handle the checks and do the things that a quarterback has to do.
“If he can do those things and doesn’t have any headaches afterwards, then chances are they will let him go.”
Crennel said Anderson’s experience as the starter in 2007 should help him overcome any rust from the last two weeks.
“I hope that we can use this week to get in sync with the wide receivers and to feel good about how he’s going to perform in this offense,” said Crennel, who wore a crisp white golf shirt for the team photo taken before practice.
Edwards’ cut was visible on the back of his foot, near the Achilles’ tendon, as he walked out of the locker room in Crocs. The cleats he wore for practice weren’t high-tops, but they were taller than normal. His speed and hands looked fine, but his conditioning is a concern.
“It’s probably not as good as it needs to be because a receiver has to run quite a bit and he hasn’t been able to do much of that,” Crennel said.
With the vast majority of the key guys back on the field, the team turned its full attention to the Cowboys.
“You worked all offseason, seven months, you just get very excited and you can’t wait to play,” Fraley said. “It’s a meaningful game, it goes on the record, it just doesn’t go away like the preseason.”
Crennel said the coaches have been preparing for Dallas since the offseason.
“We are playing for something for real now,” defensive lineman Shaun Smith said. “They are an elite team. It will be a great Week 1 test for us.”
Contact Scott Petrak at 329-7253 or spetrak@chroniclet.com.

NEXT UP

WHO: Cleveland vs. Dallas
WHAT: Season opener
WHEN: Sunday, 4:15 p.m.
WHERE: Cleveland Browns Stadium
TV/RADIO: Channel 8; WMMS 100.7-FM

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