Browns two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Joe Haden shared some good news Friday on Instagram when he announced his wife, Sarah, is pregnant.
The couple learned their first child will be a boy during a gender-reveal moment captured on video. Sarah popped a large, black balloon, setting free several small, blue balloons.
Haden also shared optimism about his chances to bounce back from adversity this coming season. He suffered two concussions and missed 11 games last season, then injured his left ankle during an offseason workout and underwent surgery March 16.
"God has blessed me with the perfect wife that has been with me through one of my hardest years!" Haden wrote on Instagram. "This year has been so tough, but God has continuously sent me blessings and I couldn't be more excited for this new chapter in my life. I can't wait to be back on the field this year to remind everyone that Lockdown Joe is back at it!!!"
When the Browns announced Haden's surgery on March 18, the team stated he "is expected to resume football activities during training camp and should be ready for the start of the 2016 regular season."
But on March 21, head of football operations Sashi Brown conceded it's "too early to tell at this point" whether Haden would be ready for the regular-season opener.
Browns coach Hue Jackson had a bright outlook Wednesday.
"Joe was probably a little disappointed when it came out that it was going to be a little while before he makes it back," Jackson said. "I am not going to put a timetable on it, how it happened, when it happened, nor exactly when he will get back. I just know this: He is in this building every day working extremely hard and wanting to be back out there with his teammates and doing exactly what they are doing. There’s not a guy in the building that is working as hard as he is. ... When Joe Haden is back, he is going to be back playing the way he always plays. He is one of the best corners in the league."