Barkevious Mingo Injury: Updates on Browns Star's Recovery from Shoulder Surgery

Cleveland Browns linebacker Barkevious Mingo is recovering after reportedly undergoing surgery to repair his shoulder. 

According to Kevin Jones of the Browns' official website, Mingo's surgery was successful:

Mingo dealt with shoulder issues for most of last season, which explains in part why the 24-year-old saw a decline in production with just two sacks in 2014 after five as a rookie. 

Browns head coach Mike Pettine told Mary Kay Cabot of The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer in November that Mingo was severely limited because of the issue: "It's not 100 percent. I don't know how much—I couldn't put a percentage on it, what he's regained. It's been tough for him having to play. Having an arm harnessed, strapped down, it has an effect."

Cabot's report also notes that defensive coordinator Jim O'Neil mentioned Mingo's injury, which was suffered in Week 1 against Pittsburgh, "will bother him the entire season."

Now that Mingo has had the shoulder fixed with surgery and gets the offseason to rehab, it's fair to expect bigger things from the talented young linebacker heading into his third year. That would be a welcome boost to a Cleveland defense that finished 23rd in total yards allowed and last against the run.