CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Former New Bern Bears running back Montario Hardesty will miss the entire NFL season after suffering a knee injury Thursday night, according to a league source.

Team spokesman Neal Gulkis said Hardesty is being placed on injured reserve. Gulkis confirmed Friday that Hardesty tore his left anterior cruciate ligament when he cut on a 2-yard run in Thursday night's exhibition game against Chicago.

It was Hardesty's first game with Cleveland after missing training camp with a bone bruise in his right knee. Before getting hurt, Hardesty ran for 25 yards on seven carries and scored a 1-yard touchdown in the Browns' 13-10 win over the Bears.

Hardesty has a history of knee problems. He tore his right anterior cruciate ligament as a freshman at Tennessee in 2005.

The Browns had high hopes for Hardesty, who rushed for 1,345 yards last season for the Volunteers. Cleveland traded three picks to move up in the draft and select him in the second round.

Hardesty's injury means Jerome Harrison will likely start with Peyton Hillis and James Davis in the running-back rotation.

The recovery time on an injury like Hardesty's is nine months.