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Barnidge underwent sports hernia surgery Thursday morning, but is expected to be ready for training camp, Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
Barnidge had a breakout year in 2015, collecting 1,043 receiving yards on 79 receptions, with a fantasy-friendly nine touchdown catches. The performance was admirable enough for the Louisville product to earn a three-year contract extension in December. Offseason surgery is rarely a good thing for prospective fantasy owners, but it sounds like the Browns are optimistic their starting tight end won't miss any valuable practice time when training camp begins, though he likely won't be available for mandatory veteran minicamp next week. These reps are quite valuable with yet another quarterback carousel set to take place in Cleveland in 2016, but considering Barnidge was able to succeed regardless of who was under center last season, there likely isn't an immediate need for him to plummet in the 2016 tight end rankings.
