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Browns coping after tragic death of teammate’s girlfriend

BEREA, Ohio — The Browns returned to practice Thursday without defensive end Chris Smith, but with him on all of their minds.

Smith’s girlfriend, Petara Cordero, was killed on Interstate 90 in Cleveland early Wednesday morning, after the couple had pulled over on the side of the road following a tire malfunction on Smith’s car. Cordero, 26, was struck by an oncoming car, the driver of which admitted to have been drinking, according to a police report. Police said Smith was not impaired.

Cordero had just given birth to the couple’s daughter, Haven Harris Smith, in August.