49ers OT Anthony Davis Stepping Away From NFL

Update:

The San Francisco 49ers officially placed OT Anthony Davis on the reserve/retired list on Monday, according to the NFL Transactions release.

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Anthony Davis stressed that this is designed to allow his mind and body to heal before considering a return to the league.

https://twitter.com/BamDavis_/status/606933460557504512

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San Francisco 49ers OT Anthony Davis announced that he plans to step away from the NFL for “a year or so” on Friday.

• Pro Football Focus reports that Davis will pay back his unearned signing bonus, which will be a  significant amount of money.
• Jason Fitzgerald mentions that Davis still has around $4.666 million in unearned signing bonus as part of his contract.

Here’s a statement released by him:

After a few years of thought, I’ve decided it will be best for me to take a year or so away from the NFL. This will be a time for me to allow my Brain and Body a chance to heal. I know many won’t understand my decision, that’s ok.

I hope you too have the courage to live your life how you planned it when day dreaming to yourself growing up. Your Life is Your dream and you have the power to control that dream. Im simply doing what’s best for my body as well as my mental health at this time in my life.

Sincerely,
Anthony Davis

49ers general manager Trent Baalke also released a statement regarding Smith’s decision to retire early:

“The 49ers organization thanks Anthony for his contributions to our team over the last five seasons and wishes him the best as he moves on from the game.”

This is the fourth notable 49ers’ player to walk away from the game after the team lost inside linebacker’s Patrick Willis and Chris Borland along with DL Justin Smith this offseason.

Davis, 25, is a former first-round pick who still had five years remaining on his seven-year, $39.67 million contract that included $17 million guaranteed. He would have made base salaries of $1.85 million (2015), $2.65 million (2016), $4 million (2017), and $5.375 million (2018-2019).

In 2014, he was limited appearing in seven games for the 49ers due to a number of injuries including concussion, knee and hamstring issues.