Free agent tight end Jermaine Gresham was diagnosed with a herniated disc earlier today, and NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that the former Bengals weapon is scheduled for back surgery on Thursday. While Rapoport notes that the tight end will determine his timetable following the surgery, previous reports estimated that Gresham would be ready for training camp.
The 26-year-old was certainly one of the more intriguing options on the free agent market, but his subpar 2014 campaign didn’t earn him a place on Luke Adams’ list of the top 50 free agents. He finished last season with 62 catches for 460 yards and five touchdowns, earning him a negative rating from Pro Football Focus (subscription required). However, it was a step up from his performance in 2013 and 2012, when PFF rated him as one of the two worst tight ends in the entire league.
The former first-round pick had previously met with the Raiders, but as of last week, the talks were reportedly “dead.” Meanwhile, the Browns had shown interest in Gresham, while the Bills were also rumored to be keeping an eye on the two-time Pro Bowler.