Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports

Cleveland Browns running back Kareem Hunt is recovering from sports hernia surgery, ESPN reported.

The surgery was to repair a ruptured adductor that apparently plagued him much of the 2023 season.

Hunt, 28, becomes a free agent in March and has indicated he would like to return to Cleveland, where he grew up.

On the season, he appeared in 15 games with two starts, re-signed after starter Nick Chubb went down with a season-ending knee injury in Week 2. He rushed 135 times for 411 yards with nine touchdowns and also caught 15 passes for 84 yards.

He added two touchdowns -- one rushing, one receiving -- in the Browns' 45-14 loss to the Houston Texans in the AFC wild-card game.

In 91 career games (38 starts) with the Kansas City Chiefs (2017-18) and Browns, Hunt has gained 6,326 yards from scrimmage with 57 scores.

Hunt earned his lone Pro Bowl selection in his rookie season when he led the NFL in rushing with 1,327 yards.

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