The debut of rookie running back Montario Hardesty, a half of playing time for struggling rookie quarterback Colt McCoy, the continued evolution of rookie defensive backs Joe Haden and T.J. Ward, the cutthroat battle for the final 10 or so roster spots.

Browns fans have plenty of reasons to tune into the “meaningless” fourth preseason game tonight against the Bears.

The biggest storylines belong to the rookies.

General manager Tom Heckert traded a third-round and two fifth-round draft picks to move back into the second round and draft Hardesty out of Tennessee at No. 59. He impressed the coaches in offseason practices with his talent and ability to pick up the scheme.

He was expected to challenge Jerome Harrison for the starting job until he suffered a bone bruise in rookie workouts before training camp. Hardesty has gone through only three practices and will be running behind the second-team line as he tries to get up to speed for the opener.

He missed all of camp and the first three preseason games, so this is the first time Cleveland fans will get a chance to see him.

“I’m very excited,” he said. “I’m just trying to get better every day to be ready.

“We’ve got a lot of talent in the backfield. I feel like my presence will help.”

Hardesty joins a crowded backfield that includes Harrison, pleasant preseason surprise Peyton Hillis, James Davis and Chris Jennings. If Hardesty can stay healthy, he has the potential to be a No. 1 back.

“He’s a kid we thought very, very highly of in the spring,” said quarterback Jake Delhomme, who won’t play. “He picked up the offense extremely quickly. He’s very intelligent.

“Obviously playing in the SEC last year, you get battle-tested, especially as a running back. It’ll be nice to have him out there. He can really help us.”

The Browns aren’t expecting anything from McCoy this year, except for him to watch, learn and get stronger.

President Mike Holmgren knew when he drafted McCoy No. 85 in the third round that he wanted college football’s winningest quarterback to spend the year on the sideline. But McCoy is a big name, and his poor preseason hasn’t gone unnoticed.

McCoy is 15-for-26 for 101 yards, no touchdowns, two interceptions, three sacks and a 34.3 rating, prompting rumblings he might get cut. That’s not going to happen, but it has been a rough introduction to the NFL.

McCoy has the chance tonight to change some of the perception. He will split time with Brett Ratliff — who could use a good outing to land on someone else’s roster — and might get the start.

“I’m excited to play,” McCoy said. “I’m really looking forward to it. To be able to know you’re going to go into a game and play a good bit of time, it’s going to be fun. When you’re on the field awhile, you can kind of get in sync, get in the flow. At least I hope to.”

McCoy completed his first eight passes Saturday in a loss to Detroit and finished 10-for-14 for 76 yards. He lost a fumble and made two mistakes in a last-second drive, including throwing a Hail Mary out of bounds.

“There were a couple decisions, again, that he needs to improve on, but he improved on the decision-making from the earlier games,” coach Eric Mangini said. “We are not where we need to be, but it has been better than what it was. That’s going to keep coming with time and experience.”

Ward, Haden and rookie guard Shawn Lauvao will start and receive their final on-field preparation for the Sept. 12 regular-season opener in Tampa Bay. Their jobs are secure.

For the 20-25 players on the bubble, this is the last chance to impress the coaching staff. They will have the opportunity to put together a highlight reel for the Browns and the league’s 31 other teams. The roster must be trimmed from 75 to 53 by Saturday at 6 p.m.

The tightest position battles are at linebacker and running back, with defensive back, offensive line and tight end next in line.

Veterans David Bowens and Eric Barton and 2009 second-round pick David Veikune could all be out of work Saturday night, as the Browns cut from 12 linebackers to as few as eight.

Bowens and Barton are Mangini favorites from the Jets days, and Veikune was Mangini’s pick. But Holmgren and Heckert are making the final roster decisions this year, which should create an interesting dynamic in the meeting room.

“It’s not worry, it’s uncertainty, because the head coach knows me and knows my ability, but the management don’t,” Bowens said. “Just go out there and play your (butt) off. That’s all you can do.”

At running back, Davis and Jennings are competing for what they hope is an open spot.

“I’d say that there’s quite a few (spots) that need to be decided,” Mangini said. “The performance (tonight) can help and it can hurt, it goes both ways.”

Contact Scott Petrak at 329-7253 or spetrak@chroniclet.com.

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