BEREA, Ohio -- Terrelle Pryor can't help that he got hurt, but the fact that the Cleveland Browns wide receiver is injured and will miss the preseason opener against the Washington Redskins on Thursday isn't helping him make the team.
"You deal in reality," Browns coach Mike Pettine said. "Right now, he can't be out there. He's taking all the mental reps that he can, but that only gets you so far."
Pryor has been sidelined since he felt his tightness in his hamstring on Aug. 4. He said he didn't think it was an issue and he planned to practice the next day, but that was his most recent day on the practice field.
That has slowed his attempted transition from quarterback to receiver. Pryor has a card with all the plays on it that he dutifully checks during practice, so he's trying to stay alert with the calls.
Pettine said Pryor's situation is like that of rookie running back Duke Johnson, who has been out with a hamstring pull since Aug. 1. Pryor and Johnson missed the intrasquad scrimmage at Ohio State and will miss Thursday's game.
Their status for the second preseason game against Buffalo is up in the air.
"We need to know what we have in both those guys," Pettine said, "and when they're not out there, it hurts us."