INDIANAPOLIS - Two Cleveland Browns former first-round picks are on the mend.
Outside linebacker Barkevious Mingo recently had shoulder surgery, Browns coach Mike Pettine confirmed, after essentially playing with one arm last season. Pettine said Wednesday at the NFL Scouting Combine that he's spoken with Mingo but that it's too early for a timetable on his return to action.
Pettine also said he has spoken with center Alex Mack, who suffered a fractured leg last October, and that the team's medical staff believes Mack is healing properly.
"He'll be able to do some things in the spring," Pettine said. "If we hold him back, it will just be us being cautious. Alex is 800 MPH all the time. We'll probably have to hold him back some."
Mack had never missed a snap in six seasons before the injury. Mingo played through his injury, starting 11 of 15 games last year. He had two sacks after having five as a rookie.
The future of the Browns two most recent first-round picks remains up in the air. Pettine said he recently visited Johnny Manziel in the treatment center in which Manziel placed himself in late January. Pettine said he expects Manziel to rejoin the team in the spring but admitted the quarterback situation remains uncertain.
On cornerback Justin Gilbert -- who, like Manziel, watched the 2014 season finale from the locker room by Pettine's order after being late to a meeting -- Pettine said he and Gilbert had discussions that were "very personal" before Gilbert left for the offseason and that he believes he got through to Gilbert.
"But, like we said with (Manziel), it's about actions, not words," Pettine said.
