Kareem Hunt undergoes sports hernia surgery; Browns assistant draws coordinator interview
BEREA — Kareem Hunt spent much of the Browns season dealing with a groin injury. With the season over, a source confirmed for the Beacon Journal that the running back recently underwent sports hernia surgery to repair a ruptured adductor.
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, who was the first to report the surgery, reported the surgery was performed by Dr. William Meyers. Meyers, who's based out of Philadelphia, also performed the sports hernia surgery last offseason on Browns receiver Amari Cooper.
Hunt will be a free agent for a second consecutive offseason. The running back did not end up signing with anyone last offseason, which made him available when the Browns brought him back in September after Nick Chubb sustained a season-ending knee injury in Week 2 at Pittsburgh.
The former NFL rushing champion with the Kansas City Chiefs spoke the day after the Browns' AFC wild card loss at the Houston Texans about the prospects of another uncertain offseason. However, the former Willoughby South High School star left the door open to another deal with his hometown team.
"I'm pretty much just going to take it day by day," Hunt said on Jan. 14. "If the opportunity presents myself and it's right here, then I wouldn't be opposed to coming back. It's my hometown and I want do nothing but help them win the Super Bowl."
Hunt rushed for 411 yards and nine touchdowns on 135 regular-season carries. He added 26 yards and a touchdown rushing, as well as a receiving score, in the playoff loss.
It was Hunt's 1-yard run on fourth down with 15 seconds remaining that lifted the Browns to a 39-28 win at the Indianapolis Colts in Week 7. It proved to be a pivotal win in Cleveland's 11-6 regular season.
"I've always been able to play and that's the thing," Hunt said after the season. "I feel like before I let some of my mental get in the way of that and just tried to do my own thing. But it worked out. I'm happy. I was able to contribute and help this team."
Originally signed by the Browns in 2019, Hunt has rushed for 2,285 yards and 25 touchdowns in 64 regular-season games, and another 106 yards in three playoff games. He's added 1,057 yards and seven touchdown receiving.
Cornerback coach Brandon Lynch interviews for Tennessee Titans defensive coordinator job
The Browns had one of the best defenses in the league, and their cornerbacks were a big reason why that was the case. So it's no surprise there's interest in the coach who led that position group, Brandon Lynch.
A source confirmed for the Beacon Journal that Lynch was interviewing for the Tennessee Titans' defensive coordinator position. Bleacher Report's Jordan Schultz reported the Titans conducted the interview on Tuesday.
Lynch, who turns 43 on Wednesday, was in his first season as the Browns' cornerbacks coach. He had been the assistant defensive backs coach for head coach Kevin Stefanski's first three seasons in Cleveland.
The Titans recently hired Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan to replace Mike Vrabel as their head coach. Callahan's AFC North background, as well as his dad, Bill, being the Browns' offensive line coach, makes him very familiar with Lynch and the rest of the Cleveland staff.
Browns cornerbacks had nine interceptions on the season, including four by Martin Emerson Jr. The Cleveland pass defense finished first in the league in the regular season at 164.7 yards per game.
Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Browns' Kareem Hunt undergoes sports hernia surgery
