One of the Cleveland Browns' most accomplished defensive stars is in danger of missing the entire offseason.
Veteran cornerback Joe Haden underwent surgery on his left ankle on Wednesday.
Haden is scheduled to resume football activities during training, the team announced on Friday. He's expected to be ready for the start of the 2016 season in early September.
A Pro Bowl selection in 2013 and 2014, Haden's 2015 season was ravaged by rib, finger, ankle and concussion injuries. He was placed on injured reserve in mid-December, finally clearing the NFL's concussion protocol on January 12.
The timing of the surgery suggests the ankle injury lingered longer than Haden and the Browns' medical staff expected.
If there's one positive for Haden this offseason, it's that he already knows new coordinator Ray Horton's system after playing in the same defense three years ago. Horton was the coordinator under former Browns head coach Rob Chudzinski in 2013, when Haden turned in his finest season.
