BEREA, Ohio (Aug. 24, 2005) -- The bulky walking boot on Lee Suggs' right ankle couldn't do anything to help heal the pain he's feeling all over.
Suggs again finished a training camp watching from the sideline after sustaining a high ankle sprain during practice last week, and the Cleveland Browns' speedy running back doesn't know when he'll be back.
"The doctors haven't given me a timetable," he said. "I'll be out there as soon as I can. I just don't know when that is. I want to get back on the field and play."
It's the second straight year that Suggs, who rushed for 744 yards in 10 games last season, has been injured toward the end of camp. A year ago, Suggs had won the starting job but hurt his neck and missed the first three games of the regular season.
He also sat out three games later in the year with an injured toe. Suggs spent the first nine games of his rookie season on the injured list with a shoulder injury.
"It's kind of weird," Suggs said, speaking for the first time since he misstepped and rolled his ankle in a drill last week. "I could ask, 'Why,' but it's not going to get answered."
Suggs was in a three-way battle with Reuben Droughns and William Green to be Cleveland's starter. But for now, he's having to bow out because of his latest injury.
The former Virginia Tech star said he planted his foot last week when it suddenly gave out.
"I couldn't do anything about it," he said.
With the season opener against Cincinnati quickly approaching, Suggs knows his chances of being the Browns' No. 1 back lessen with each day he has to stand around and watch. He wished he could have done more to secure the starting job, but he has already missed one exhibition game and will sit out Friday's at home against Carolina.
"This set me back a lot," he said.
Droughns, who rushed for 1,240 yards last week for Denver, said Suggs' injury underscores the need to have more than one dependable back.
"Injuries are such a big part of the game," said Droughns, who missed the preseason opener against the New York Giants with a sore hamstring. "With running backs, you can't ever have enough."
