Auburn running back Tre Mason was a surprise visitor among NFL draft prospects in Indianapolis for a medical re-check, where it was determined that he will need wrist surgery following the draft and will not be available for initial team activities, according to NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport.
Mason is expected to be available for the preseason, according to Rapoport. NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah indicated news of Mason's pending surgery would not affect his draft stock, but said it could be a determining factor for a team with another running back graded evenly. Jeremiah sees Mason being chosen in the mid-to-latter part of the second round.
According to Rapoport, a bone in Mason's wrist hasn't properly healed and will need to be surgically fused.
Mason tweeted Friday that he would not require surgery, but Rapoport reported that this is not what teams have been told.
Mason led the Tigers to a BCS National Championship Game appearance in compiling a whopping 1,816 yards on 317 carries as a junior last season, with 23 touchdowns. NFL Media analyst Mike Mayock ranks him as the draft's No. 4 running back prospect, behind LSU's Jeremy Hill and ahead of Boston College's Andre Williams.
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