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Promising Steelers DB Released, Expected to Medically Retire
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- Promising Steelers DB Released, Expected to Medically Retire
From Steelers Now :
Pittsburgh Steelers safety Ryan Watts walks off the field after being injured in a preseason game against the Detroit Lions on Aug. 24, 2024. -- Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
The Pittsburgh Steelers have released second-year safety Ryan Watts , the team announced on Monday. Watts is expected to medically retire after a significant neck injury suffered during the 2024 season.
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"Unfortunately, today we are releasing Ryan Watts from our roster," general manager Omar Khan said in a press release on Monday. "After consulting with our medical team, medical experts, and Ryan's representatives, we all agree that it is in Ryan's best interest to discontinue playing football at this time.
"We will continue to assist and support Ryan as he transitions to the next phase of his life."
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back Ryan Watts during a preseason game against the Detroit Lions on Aug. 24, 2024. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
Watts suffered a major neck injury on one of the final plays of the team's third and final preseason game of the 2024 season against the Detroit Lions last August. Watts was originally diagnosed with a stinger, but further evaluation showed a more significant injury. He underwent surgery in January.
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"This has easily been one of the hardest years of my life," Watts wrote in a post on Instagram , captioning a photo of him in a hospital bed with a neck brace. "Through serious injury and all I will remain optimistic because I can do ALL things through HIM. Road to recovery …"
Watts was placed on the injured reserve list on Aug. 27, before the final cut down to 53 players, ending his 2024 season by rule before it started . After spending a few days in a neck brace initially, Watts remained with the team throughout the 2024 season, often working on his own or in a small group with other players recovering from injury.
Pittsburgh Steelers safety Ryann Watts in a neck brace at practice on Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
The injury is similar to the one suffered by Steelers safety Trenton Thompson in 2023. That injury ended Thompson's season, and eventually his career. He avoided surgery and was able to return in the spring of 2024, but was unable to replicate the performance that earned him a roster spot the previous year and was released. Thompson also recently announced his retirement from football.
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The 23-year-old Watts was the Steelers' sixth-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft out of Texas. A college cornerback, the Steelers moved the 6-foot-3, 212-pound Watts to strong safety, and he appeared to be making an impact at his new position when the injury cut his career short.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : Promising Steelers DB Released, Expected to Medically Retire
