BEREA, Ohio - The Cleveland Browns added a missing corner piece to their defensive puzzle Monday.

Cornerback Gary Baxter practiced for the first time since straining his left pectoral muscle in an exhibition Aug. 10 against Philadelphia, and proclaimed himself ready for the Sept. 10 season opener against the New Orleans Saints.

"I'm pushing it as best I can and I felt really good," Baxter said after coming off the field. "I think - well, I know I will be ready for the first game."

That's great news for the Browns, who are already without cornerback Daylon McCutcheon, their surest tackler and the most experienced player in their secondary. McCutcheon had arthroscopic knee surgery Aug. 1 and it's unclear when he'll be ready to play.

McCutcheon was expected to battle with Leigh Bodden for the starting job on the left side. But even if McCutcheon was 100 percent, Bodden may have beaten him out after being arguably the Browns' top player in training camp.

While Baxter was out, Pete Hunter and Ralph Brown filled in at right cornerback, but both have been burned for long passes in Cleveland's past two exhibition games.

"If we can get a Gary Baxter back on the field, I think it would help solidify the position," Browns coach Romeo Crennel said. "In the meantime, we're taking a look at guys like Ralph Brown. I think he can come in and do some things. He's not Gary Baxter, particularly when Gary is healthy and can play. We have to deal with those things and we understand where we are."

Baxter missed the final last 10 games last season - his with Cleveland - after tearing his right pectoral muscle making a tackle against Detroit.

In his first practice since getting hurt, Baxter took part in all the drills but didn't test his injury with contact. That will come, maybe even during Cleveland's preseason finale Thursday against Chicago.

"The real test for me is to go out there and press and use my arm and jam like I used to," he said. "Today, I didn't do that. I didn't have any contact, but it's still early. Sometime before next week I'll have to test my left arm and see how the muscle feels."

Although he's injured each side of his chest in the past year, Baxter said he's not going to shy away from contact.

"You are going to get hurt. This is an injury game and I'm just going to go out there and I'm going to lay it on the line at full speed. The day that I start hesitating, that will probably be the day I hang up my cleats."