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Cleveland Browns need a healthy, productive Joe Haden

By The Sports Xchange
Cleveland Browns cornerback Joe Haden (23) breaks up a pass intended for Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Steve Smith at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland on December 28, 2014. The Ravens defeated the Browns 20-10. UPI/Kevin Dietsch
Cleveland Browns cornerback Joe Haden (23) breaks up a pass intended for Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Steve Smith at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland on December 28, 2014. The Ravens defeated the Browns 20-10. UPI/Kevin Dietsch | License Photo

BEREA, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns have many problems to solve before they can win more games than they lose in a season, and one of them is getting Pro Bowl cornerback Joe Haden ready to play in 2016.

Haden had a miserable 2015. He played in only five games because of a thumb injury and two concussions, and by his own admission did not play particularly well in those five games.

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Haden last played Nov. 1 in a game against the Arizona Cardinals. It was his first game back after sitting out two games because of a concussion suffered in Baltimore on Oct. 11. He was concussed again playing the Cardinals, but that, it turned out, wasn't the biggest issue.

Haden also suffered an ankle injury in the Arizona game. The ankle problem was listed on the injury report the following week, but never again after that. However, doctors had to operate on the ankle March 16 because of problems stemming from the November 1 injury. He just got out of his walking boot on Tuesday, but he is not nearly ready to participate in the OTAs currently underway at the Browns training facility.

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"Progress is going pretty good," Haden said on Wednesday. "I got out of my boot yesterday. That was a big step. I was on the scooter to the boot and now I'm walking around weight-bearing. The process is going really well.

"I never really went through any type of adversity like this playing football. I'm missing it, just not being able to be out there with my guys, sometimes feeling like I'm in the way a little bit. I just don't really like that feeling at all, knowing that I'm a leader on this team and a person that's going to be making a big impact depending on wins and losses."

The Browns let starting free safety Tashaun Gipson walk in free agency and then cut starting strong safety Donte Whitner.

Cornerback Justin Gilbert, the eighth overall pick in the 2014 draft and a colossal disappointment his first two years, started with the first defense on Wednesday while Haden watched from the sideline. Tramon Williams, a veteran right cornerback, also worked with the first unit.

Head coach Hue Jackson said Haden is making better progress than anyone expected in mid-May, but won't predict when Haden could start practicing.

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"I just feel like the way that I'm going to be working, and the way that I'm going to try to get back, I think I'm going to be back definitely for sure not to miss any regular season time," Haden said. "I don't really know about training camp. That's the goal, try to get back, but I just know for sure that my whole thing is, I'm not missing any games."

Haden missed most of training camp last summer and it affected the way he played early in the season even before the injuries cut his season short.

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