The Seattle Seahawks announced Friday that they’ve released DE Cliff Avril with a failed physical designation.
Avril sustained a serious neck injury last year that has left his future in the NFL in question.
Back in January, Avril 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.
“I believe so,” Avril said when asked if he will ever play football again. “Right now it’s all about recovery. I had surgery I’m in the process of recovering. It’s a long process, a long journey. When I get to the end of that, then I’ll figure out what’s next.”
Avril added that he wants to show he can return from this and resume his pro football career.
“I mean, it’s something I love to do. It’s what I’ve been doing forever and, just as a competitor, I want to show that I can come back if it’s possible, you know?” Avril said. “You do see all the injuries. You want the game from a different perspective when you’re on the sideline. And those thoughts do definitely pop into my head of ‘Should I come back or not?’ But again, right now it’s all about recovery.”
However, the Seahawks made it clear that his ability to return was in serious question.
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.
Avril was in the fourth year of his five-year, $35.5 million contract that included $16 million guaranteed and set 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.
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