On Wednesday, Seahawks DE Cliff Avril mentioned during an interview with KIRO-AM in Seattle that heโs โgetting betterโ in regards to his neck injury and the main goal for him moving forward is to just be able to play with his kids.
โIโm getting better,โ Avril said, via Gregg Bell of the News Tribune. โWell, first and foremost, I mean, my health is most important, right? So for me, I just want to get back to feeling good, right? I just want to get back to being able to move around and hopefully be able to get outside and play basketball with my kids, and different things like that.
โThatโs the main goal for me. Not necessarily getting back to football, but just quality of life, right?โ
Avril did, however, say that he doesnโt want to close the door on potentially resuming his football career and he โdefinitelyโ thinks he can work his way back.
โAs I continue to just keep chopping away, I donโt want to just close the door on (playing again),โ Avril said. โSo I definitely think I can get back on the field. If itโs possible, I will.
โBut if not, Iโm OK with that. As long as I am able to be a dad and being able to run around with my kids. Thatโs number one for me right now.โ
Earlier in the week, Aril told Steve Wyche of the NFL Network that he believes he can continue his NFL career, despite the serious neck injury he suffered this past season.
โI believe so,โ Avril said when asked if he will ever play football again. โRight now itโs all about recovery. I had surgery Iโm in the process of recovering. Itโs a long process, a long journey. When I get to the end of that, then Iโll figure out whatโs next.โ
Avril added that he wants to show he can return from this and resume his pro football career.
โI mean, itโs something I love to do. Itโs what Iโve been doing forever and, just as a competitor, I want to show that I can come back if itโs possible, you know?โ Avril said. โYou do see all the injuries. You want the game from a different perspective when youโre on the sideline. And those thoughts do definitely pop into my head of โShould I come back or not?โ But again, right now itโs all about recovery.โ
A few weeks ago, Seahawks HC Pete Carroll said during a radio interview (per Bob Condotta) that Avril and S Kam Chancellor will have a โhard time playing football again.โ
Although Carroll did indicate that the decision to return will be up to Avril and Chancellor.
Avril, 31, is a former third-round pick of the Lions back in 2008. He spent five years in Detroit before signing on with the Seahawks in 2013. Heโs currently in the fourth year of his five-year, $35.5 million contract that included $16 million guaranteed and stands to make base salaries of $4.5 million and $7 million over the next two years of the agreement.
In 2017, Avril appeared in four games and recorded two tackles and one sack for the Seahawks.
Weโll have more regarding Avril as the news is available.
Looking for the latest NFL Insider News & Rumors?
Be sure to follow NFL Trade Rumors on X.com and FACEBOOK for breaking NFL News and Rumors for all 32 teams!