Free agent tight end Jermaine Gresham is getting back surgery to fix a herniated disk in his back, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Gresham is currently looking for a new contract after the Cincinnati Bengals declined to extend his beyond the rookie deal.
Gresham only discovered the injury during free agency, explaining why it took until Thursday for him to get surgery. With the injury and subsequent rehab looming, it is likely Gresham will not land a deal until the summer, if not later, depending on his recovery.
In 2014, Gresham was slowed by a litany of injuries but managed to play 15 games and catch 62 passes for 460 yards and five touchdowns. Gresham, the Bengals' first-round pick in 2010 out of the University of Oklahoma, has 24 career touchdowns and 2,722 yards. His major downside is fumbling, with 11 in Cincinnati. In his five-year career, Gresham has been durable, only missing six games total.