The Associated Press

BEREA, Ohio - Another training camp, another return from a season-ending injury for Courtney Brown.

For the second straight season, the Cleveland defensive end has to show whether he can recover and finally prove he was worth a No. 1 overall draft pick.

Brown's comeback from a knee injury took another step forward Monday as he participated in full-team drills for the first time.

"It's a great feeling to see him out there on the field," defensive tackle Gerard Warren said. "He's back out there. He's ready to go at 100 percent. They're bringing him back at a steady pace, but I think he's ready to go full throttle."

Brown, who has been closely monitored throughout training camp, has missed 16 games the past two seasons because of injuries.

His 2002 season ended prematurely when he injured his left knee, eventually requiring microfracture surgery - a radical procedure that involves holes being drilled into the knee to promote cartilage growth.

"He seemed to do very good," Browns coach Butch Davis said Monday. "We'll just kind of judge it every two or three days and see if we can add more things to it and hopefully get him closer ... to play in a preseason game or regular-season game."

Knee, ankle and neck injuries have prevented Brown from playing a full season since his rookie year.

• The Browns placed tight end and former UC football and basketball player Rod Monroe on injured reserve Monday.

JAGUARS: Johnnie Mitchell was released by Jacksonville on Monday, halting a comeback attempt by the tight end who hasn't played in a regular-season NFL game since 1996.

"We didn't feel like he was going to make this football team," coach Jack Del Rio said. "We wanted to be fair and give him a chance to catch on with somebody else."

Mitchell was a first-round draft pick of the New York Jets in 1992. He caught 158 passes for 2,086 yards and 16 touchdowns in four seasons.

CARDINALS: A day after a visit to the hospital, Bryant Johnson was back with Arizona Monday, slightly embarrassed and glad to be drawing attention for running pass routes again.

The wide receiver, the No. 17 pick in this year's draft, blamed a few drinks and Flagstaff's 7,000-foot elevation for the queasy feeling that led teammates to call an ambulance early Sunday.

Bryant was examined and released from Flagstaff Regional Medical Center.

"That's probably what it was - being dehydrated and being at this altitude," the former Penn State star said after practice. "I feel fine now."

DOLPHINS: Miami newcomer Sammy Knight needed barely a week of training camp to dislodge Arturo Freeman as the starting strong safety. Knight was listed with the first team on the first depth chart released Monday, and he'll start the opening exhibition game Friday against Tampa Bay.

Cornerback Patrick Surtain probably won't play. Surtain has been sidelined for a week with inflammation and swelling in his left knee, which may require arthroscopic surgery.

Even if Surtain has the operation, he's expected to be ready for the start of the regular season Sept. 7.

LIONS: Fullback Cory Schlesinger signed a two-year contract extension.

The 31-year-old Schlesinger has 153 carries for 449 yards and five touchdowns and 136 receptions for 1,037 yards and three TDs in eight seasons with the Lions.

NFL calendar

Aug. 7-11: Full preseason weekend.

Aug. 31: Roster cut to maximum of 53 players.

Sept. 4: Regular season begins - New York Jets at Washington.

Oct. 14: Trading deadline.

Dec. 27-28: Regular season ends.

Feb. 1: Super Bowl, Houston.

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