BEREA - Browns tight end Aaron Shea will miss the rest of the season after tearing a biceps muscle - another serious injury for the fourth-year pro.

Shea, who got hurt while making a block Sept. 28 against Cincinnati, had surgery Tuesday and was placed on the injured reserve list Wednesday.

''At first we thought if he did enough rehab, we might be able to get him back after the open date,'' Browns coach Butch Davis said. ''But after letting it go four or five days and with doctors looking at it, they said it was more than likely that the rehab wouldn't get him strong enough for him to play and be effective and play the rest of the season.''

Shea played in seven games last season because of injuries. He missed the first two weeks with an injured shoulder and the final seven games after suffering a badly sprained ankle in practice during the Browns' bye week.

The 6-foot-3, 255-pounder missed four weeks with a shoulder injury in 2001.

To fill Shea's roster spot, the Browns claimed tight end Zeron Flemister off waivers from Washington.

He had 29 receptions for 356 yards and four TDs before being waived by the Redskins.