Struggling Browns won't rush Hillis | Thebigtip

Cleveland Browns coach Pat Shurmur has confirmed that there is no chance of Peyton Hillis being fit enough to play against the St Louis Rams on Sunday.

It will be the fourth game in a row that the 25-year-old running back will have missed since he strained his left hamstring in mid-October.

It had been hoped that the former Denver Broncos star would feature in the weekend clash against Houston, but he suffered a recurrence of the problem during training last Friday and missed the 30-12 loss. Those looking at the best NFL betting odds online should remember this.

Shurmur said of Hillis. "We want him to get healthy. We want to get him back as quickly as possible. That's where we are."

After enjoying a fine first season with the Browns, Hillis' second campaign has been far more problematic. He has already missed five games through injury, became embroiled in an argument with the club about a contract extension, and alienated some of his team-mates with a series of off-pitch controversies.

Meanwhile, running back Montario Hardesty is also expected to miss Sunday's game after tearing a calf muscle during last month's 20-10 defeat to the San Francisco 49ers.

In addition, running back Brandon Jackson is sidelined for the whole season after picking up a toe injury in August while wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi is suffering from concussion.

"We're very strict with that protocol when it involves concussion situations," Shurmur said of Massaquoi. "There is no wiggle room. We follow the guidelines as to when a player can be back."

The Browns have struggled in the first half of the season, winning only three of their first eight matches and have lost four of their last five games.