Wide receiver Braylon Edwards missed the last three preseason games with a lacerated right heel and quarterback Derek Anderson missed the last two suffering from a concussion resulting from a sack in the Aug. 18 game against the Giants. Both returned to practice Sept. 1. If ever anyone was happy to be working on Labor Day, it was Anderson and Edwards. The pair that hooked up for 16 of Anderson's 29 touchdown passes looks fresh and eager to get the season going. By Wednesday, they were working on sharpening their timing.

Coach Romeo Crennel's concern for Anderson was whether the quarterback could cope with bright sunlight. As it happened, the day Anderson returned to full practice was bright and sunny in Berea, Ohio. Anderson experienced no problems.

Crennel's concern for Edwards will need more time to be resolved. While Edwards was recovering from the injury, which occurred when Donte Stallworth inadvertently stepped on the back of Edwards' heel, Edwards was told to stay off his feet. That meant Edwards could not run, which means his conditioning comes into question.

"It's probably not as good as it needs to be because a receiver has to run quite a bit and he hasn't been able to do much of that," Crennel said. "We'll see what he can handle and how much he can handle."

Anderson joked and clapped as he led the offense from one practice field to another. If he had the proverbial dead training camp arm before his concussion, the time off was good for him because his throws zipped to his receivers. A pass to Edwards of about 12 yards drew a 'Whoo!' from Edwards, but Edwards caught the bullet with his hands away from his body and ran his route as if he hadn't missed any time.

Not every injured offensive player will be ready for the Cowboys, and with the Dallas defense considered one of the best in the league, the Browns could need every player.

Running back Jamal Lewis, coming off a 1,300-yard season in 2007, missed the final two preseason games with a hamstring injury. He returned to practice Wednesday, and like Edwards has to get back into game shape in a hurry. With Lewis' strict offseason training method, it should not be a problem.

What could be a problem, though, is the Dallas pass rush because of injuries along the Browns offensive line.

In May, the Browns were very deep from guard to guard. But then right guard Ryan Tucker fractured his hip in May during the OTAs. In the last preseason game, Tucker's replacement, Rex Hadnot, suffered a knee injury that could keep him out two weeks. Lennie Friedman, a versatile backup guard and center, suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in the third preseason game. He was put on injured reserve on the final cutdown.

The falling dominoes leave Seth McKinney as the starting right guard for now. McKinney missed part of preseason with an ankle injury. Tucker is fighting hard to get back, but might not be ready. He started camp on PUP and was not activated until Aug. 30. His first day in pads was Sept. 1.

"I'm anxious to get out there," the 12th-year veteran said. "No one likes to start the season on the sideline. I'll try my hardest to get out there. I'm not going to put myself or the team in a situation where I'm on the shelf again for six weeks because I'm rushing something. When I get back in there, I'll be ready."

Scott Young, a backup guard who played the last three years with the Eagles, was claimed off waivers from Philadelphia.

SERIES HISTORY: 29th meeting. Browns lead the regular-season series, 15-10, and the playoff series, 2-1. The two teams have met only once since the Browns returned to the NFL in 1999. The Cowboys won in Dallas, 19-12, on Sept. 19, 2004. It was a game Kellen Winslow would like to forget. His leg was fractured and ankle ligaments torn while trying to recover an onside kick.