Cleveland Browns TE Gary Barnidge (hernia surgery) out until camp

Tight end Gary Barnidge will be sidelined until training camp due to hernia surgery.

Barnidge was excused from the Cleveland Browns on-field workouts Wednesday, but head coach Hue Jackson disclosed Thursday during a Browns Foundation Golf outing that the Pro Bowl tight end underwent hernia surgery.

The Browns open training camp the last week of July. Barnidge, 30, might be limited at the beginning of workouts.

"He had the best doctor and he will be back and ready to go at training camp,'' Jackson said, per Cleveland.com. "I'm glad that we're dealing with this now, so that we can get it behind us and get him back to where he needs to be. And me knowing him, he'll be chomping at the bit way before time, but we'll slow him down and make sure he's ready to go.''

Jackson said there is no concern Barnidge could miss the start of the regular season.

Barnidge had a huge season for Cleveland but now will work with a new starting quarterback. While Jackson said Monday he was not ready to name a starter out of organized team activities, Robert Griffin III is presumed the frontrunner in a group that includes Josh McCown, a journeyman who began 2015 as the starter.

Barnidge led the Browns with 79 receptions, 1,043 receiving yards and nine TDs in 2015.