CLEVELAND, Ohio — Browns Pro Bowl receiver Jarvis Landry tried to avoid major surgery this offseason, but his hip just wasn’t cool with it.
After initially opting not to have the surgery and playing in the Pro Bowl on Jan. 26, Landry reversed field and underwent the procedure Feb. 4 with Dr. Chris Larson in Minnesota. He announced the procedure on his Instagram account Thursday morning, complete with video of his rehab and commentary from Larson.
He first revealed to cleveland.com on Jan. 30 that perhaps he should’ve had the surgery in the first place.
The procedure, to shave down some cartilage and remove two pieces of bone embedded in the labrum of his left hip, should have him back on the field at some point during training camp at least on a limited basis.
With camp starting in late July, that time frame is consistent with Landry’s original estimate that a surgery would sideline him six to eight months. The Browns released a statement Thursday morning saying he’s expected to make a full recovery for the 2020 season, which begins in September.
It also means that Baker Mayfield’s two star receivers in Landry and Odell Beckham Jr. — who both eclipsed 1,000 yards in 2019 — have undergone surgery this offseason to repair ailments that prevented them from practicing much last season. Beckham, who underwent core muscle surgery Jan. 21 by Dr. Bill Meyers in Philadelphia, will be healthy in about a month, a league source told cleveland.com.
Beckham posted video of himself on his Instagram story Thursday running on a treadmill, a welcome sight for the Browns.
As for Landry, he was determined to avoid the surgery and long recovery, but the hip wouldn’t cooperate and flared up at the Pro Bowl, where he caught four passes for 34 yards in the AFC’s 38-33 victory.
“I felt like if I got together with the team doctors, got together with my doctors, that we could formulate a plan for this offseason to be able to manage me again throughout the year to be able to make it through the season,” Landry said in the Instagram video. “Going into Pro Bowl, given that I was off three weeks, and thinking that I was going to feel better and then playing in the game -- which obviously wasn’t really a game, we were just jogging around, having fun -- and I realized how much pain I was in from even just doing that.’’
The return of the pain that weekend confirmed the inevitable.
“I was kinda happy that I went to Pro Bowl because that was more of an indication of why I needed the surgery,’’ he said.
Larson was thrilled with the outcome of the procedure when discussing the post-op X-rays.
“I was super happy with how things moved afterward,’’ he explained. “You can see how much better his hip is going to move out to the side. You can see how much better his hip is going to feel.’’
Larson said the key was removing the two pieces of bone that were embedded in Landry’s labrum, and then preserving and repairing the labrum.
“That was probably the hardest part about it,’’ he said. “So you know I think [there was] more going on getting in there than maybe anticipated first seeing him. The more I thought about it, it didn't surprise me. But the more you find, the better you feel [about] how much better he’s going to feel. I really feel like he's going to feel like mechanically this just works better."
As Landry was headed to Minnesota, he was filmed walking through the airport saying, “Nervous. But I know I need this. I know it's time. So we'll see."
Larson noted that Landry needed to be on crutches for two weeks and then could continue on with his physical therapy and riding a stationery bike. Landry showed video of himself doing the therapy and also said he was headed “Back to the ‘Land’’ where he’ll work with Browns doctors on his rehab.
The saga began last spring when Landry was found to have a fractured sacrum, which kept him out of the offseason program. The fracture ultimately healed, but the hip injury flared up and got worse in training camp. He was held out much of camp and practiced sparingly throughout the season.
Still, he didn’t miss a game for the sixth straight year of his career and posted career highs in receiving yards (1,174) and yards per reception (14.1) in 2019. The yardage total was fourth-highest in club history and his six receiving touchdowns marked the second-best total of his career. His 564 receptions are the most all-time by NFL player through their first six seasons.
He was also voted to his fifth straight Pro Bowl and second straight as a Brown.
He first revealed to cleveland.com on Dec. 20 that he might need the surgery, and later added that he’d be out 6-8 months if he had it.
After the season, Landry saw multiple hip specialists. On Jan. 21, a league source confirmed that Landry had opted against surgery and that he’d play in the Pro Bowl. But then the flare-up in Orlando happened.
Now he hopes that he can play pain-free in 2020 under new coach Kevin Stefanski and offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt. The coaches have met with both Landry and Beckham and see big things for them in 2020 — even if they can’t practice as much as they want this offseason.
“They both deserve to get the ball as much as possible,’’ Van Pelt said in his introductory press conference Wednesday. “The beauty of having both of them is you can’t tilt coverage one way or the other.
"I think having two guys that really make you play it straight defensively will help. As far as getting them the ball, that is our job as the offensive staff to scheme up ways to make them a top priority in the progressions.”
Van Pelt has also called upon Landry and Beckham to lead what he expects to be an explosive offense.
“I’m excited,’’ he said. “I see not just talented guys; I see guys who can be leaders because they’re vocal and they’re voices in that locker room. It’s our job to help them be positive leaders, and that’s what I think both guys want to do.”
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