The Ravens are losing one of their best young defensive players to retirement.
Linebacker Zach Orr is hanging it up at the age of 24 because of a congenital neck/spine condition, the Ravens announced Friday. The Ravens met with Orr to make sure he was completely certain of his decision to retire
once they found out about his intentions, a source informed of the situation told NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport.
Speaking at a news conference, Orr said he was "kind of forced to walk away" after an MRI for a herniated disc revealed the neck/spine condition.
"I'm blessed and thankful that I'm able to walk away from the game in good health," Orr said.
Orr's agent, Rob Sheets, said neck specialist Andrew Dossett informed Orr two weeks ago of his condition. Dossett told Orr his C1 vertebra was only 80 percent formed and that he would be unable to pass a physical to
play football again, NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reported.
"(Dossett) hadn't even closed the door, and Zach turned to me and said, 'Are you going to be OK?'" Sheets said, per Garafolo. "The kid was about to get the most traumatic information he'd receive in his life and the first thought he had was for his agent, not himself. If that doesn't speak to the character of the man, I don't know what does."
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