Veteran running back Chris Carson plans to retire from the NFL due to a lingering neck injury. The news came hours after the Seattle Seahawks released Carson with a failed physical designation.
Carson underwent neck surgery back in November, ending his 2021 campaign prematurely. While there was initial optimism that the 27-year-old player returns to the field at some point, those hopes started to wane in recent months. It became apparent that Carson would have a hard time getting medically cleared, and the Seahawks had no other option but to let him go.
“It’s a big disappointment,” said Seahawks general manager John Schneider. “We took it as long as we possibly could with him, he saw a number of specialists, but unfortunately, he wasn’t able to pass our physical.”
Without Carson on board, Seattle is now facing a lack of depth in the backfield. The team will probably dip again into the free agency to address the need while hoping 2022’s second-round selection Kenneth Walker III can make an immediate impact.
Chris Carson entered the NFL as the Seahawks’ seven-round pick in 2017. In five years as a pro, he managed 3,502 rushing yards and 24 rushing touchdowns. His best year came in 2019 when he ran for 1,230 yards and seven TDs while also grabbing 37 passes for 266 yards and two scores.
