BEREA, Ohio - Cleveland running back Jamal Lewis is quickly approaching two round milestones: 30 years of age and 10,000 career yards.
He won't hit the big 3-0 until Aug. 26, when the self-described "gym junkie" will be preparing for his 10th season as a pro. Barring an injury, Lewis, who once gained 295 yards in a game, will become the NFL's 24th 10,000-yard man sometime soon.
With running backs Jerome Harrison (hamstring) and Jason Wright (neck) nursing injuries, Lewis could be busier than usual when the Browns (4-6) host the Houston Texans (3-7). And that's more than fine with Lewis, who is still looking for his first 100-yard game this season after rushing for 1,304 yards in 2007.
Whether on the practice field or in the stadium when the game lights are shining, Lewis craves being Cleveland's workhorse.
"I want every rep [repetition]," he said. "I want every rep. I want it. I want it. Things happen. I've got to be there to answer the bell, and I'll be there."
There hasn't been a time when he wasn't.
Lewis enters this week's game with 658 yards on 185 carries, a 3.6-yard-per-carry average - below his 4.3 career mark - that has some wondering if the 29-year-old has lost a step. He hasn't been breaking off long runs the way he did a year ago, when he scored on TD runs of 66 and 31 yards. His longest scoring run this season is four yards.
However, Browns coach Romeo Crennel said that's not all Lewis' fault.
"We haven't blocked as efficiently as we need to, to help him," he said. "Last year we were able to get him into the second level and he can have a break out run. He really hasn't had those this year to get him over that century mark."
Fact is, although he hasn't seemed as productive or as quick, Lewis is ahead of last season's pace. And, it was at this exact point a year ago, when he took off.
In Week 11 against Houston, Lewis busted out for 134 yards on 29 attempts in Cleveland's 27-17 win. It was the first of four 100-yard-plus games in his final six games when he racked up 697 yards.
Lewis feels he's on the verge of breaking loose again.
"I think I'm running as well as I need to and as well as I train in the offseason to run," he said. "You're not going to get 100 yards every game. You're not going get those big yards every game. Sometimes it's all about being consistent. I think I'm being very consistent right now. But eventually those breaks will come."
As a whole, Cleveland's offense hasn't been what it was last season, when the Browns scored 402 points and produced four Pro Bowlers. But things have changed.
Injuries have been a factor, limiting offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski's options. Also, the Browns recently switched quarterbacks, turning the unit over to Brady Quinn, who has made just two starts and is still settling into his new role. Quinn's presence changes the game plan as does the opponent.
Beyond that, Lewis injured a hamstring during the preseason.
Crennel has kept him out of at least one practice during the week so he's as close to 100 percent as possible by kickoff.
"Think about last year, we were putting up how many yards of offense?" Lewis said. "Everything complements itself. The running game is just not the running game. The running game complements the passing game, the passing game complements the running game. Things happen. Other teams look at film. They know what Chud is going to do. They know what Kellen Winslow is going to do. They scout, they find that weakness. They're professional teams.
"When I'm in the game, it's 100 percent that 'OK, we're going to see the run.' When another back comes in the game, it's 'OK, they might throw it or they might run.' You've got to look at it like that," he said.
The Browns are 11-1 in games when Lewis has 20 or more carries. It's a statistic they proudly display in their weekly media release. Cleveland is 3-0 this season when Lewis gets his 20 touches. But he knows better than anyone, that it only takes one rush to make an average game spectacular.
On Monday night in Buffalo, Harrison found a seam on the left side and went 72 yards for a TD - the eighth-longest scoring run in Browns history.
"It was blocked up perfectly," Lewis said. "The alley was there. That's an opportunity. The hole is there and when you've got the opportunity you take it. It's not how many times you carry the ball."
Lewis may be Cleveland's only backfield option on Sunday. That could mean more carries, and perhaps more yards for a player whose not getting any younger.
But to Lewis, age is nothing more than another meaningless statistic. He's not sure how much longer he can play, but he knows when he'll quit.
"When I get up and say I don't feel like doing it, that's when it's time to move on," he said.
Lewis was reminded that 30 is about when NFL running backs begin tailing off.
"I thought it was 29 before I came into the season. Now it's 30? Next year it will be 31," he said with a laugh. "The numbers are the numbers. I'm 30 years old. I've played nine seasons. I missed one season with an injury, so that's eight seasons. I'm fresh. I work out hard in the offseason. That's what I pride myself on."
Browns tight end Kellen Winslow sprained his right shoulder in the win over the Buffalo Bills, but it is unlikely to keep him out for an extended period.
Winslow got hurt while catching a 16-yard pass that set up kicker Phil Dawson's 56-yard field goal in a 29-27 win. After making the reception, Winslow was wrapped up and fell hard on his shoulder.
An MRI taken Tuesday revealed no structural damage. Coach Romeo Crennel said Winslow did not practice yesterday and that the five-year veteran's status for Sunday's game against the Texans would depend on getting strength and range of motion in his shoulder.
First Published November 20, 2008, 9:37 a.m.
