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Report: Steelers' Coates underwent sports hernia surgery

Rob Leiter / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Sammie Coates recently underwent surgery to repair a sports hernia, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports, citing a source.

Coates was known to have been playing through finger issues for the majority of the 2016 season, but was never listed on the injury report with any sort of groin ailment.

As a result, this could make for yet another situation that gets the attention of the league office.

The NFL reportedly began looking into a potential violation of the injury report policy when Le'Veon Bell revealed that he'd been playing through a groin issue for several weeks after missing the majority of the AFC title game. The Steelers had not previously listed Bell on their injury report with the ailment.

The Seahawks were investigated for not disclosing cornerback Richard Sherman's knee injury over the second half of the season, and a report had indicated the team could be stripped of a second-round pick as a penalty, but Seattle now seems to have escaped with a mere warning.

Coates, a third-round pick in 2015, finished his second season with 21 receptions for 435 yards and two touchdowns.

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