Washington Redskins tight end Vernon Davis made his retirement official this week after initially announcing it during a media session before the Super Bowl.
And in the wake of the announcement, the veteran tight end got around to diving into more detail as to why he’s hanging up the cleats.
“Just the simple wear and tear over time. Especially those concussions,” Davis said, according to Ethan Cadeaux of NBC Sports. “They can take a toll on you in the long haul. It’s just better safe than sorry. But if it wasn’t for that throughout the course of time, then I probably would have played for the next five years, at least. But I feel like I made a great decision as I move forward.”
Those concussions are a grim reality of the NFL right now and the decisions players face.
Davis, at least from an attendance-sheet standpoint, had enjoyed a relatively healthy NFL career before only playing in four games last season. That he appears to have a future in acting and is only 36 years old probably made the decision a little easier.
Still, concussions playing a role here swings an even bigger spotlight to Jordan Reed, who just missed all of last season after suffering another of many documented head injuries.
Regardless of what happens with Reed, it’s clear the Redskins have some work to do at the position this offseason.
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