Ravens’ Zach Orr Retires

Hours after a report surfaced the Ravens and linebacker Zach Orr were progressing on an extension, those plans will not come to fruition, it appears. Orr will instead retire due to a “serious injury”, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.

The talented linebacker was reportedly playing with a cracked bone in his shoulder, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com reports (on Twitter), and he missed Week 17 due to a neck injury. The team attempted to talk Orr out of this decision, according to Rapoport.

Orr is battling a congenital neck condition, Jeff Zreibec of the Baltimore Sun reports, adding the discovery of this came a day after the Ravens’ regular-season finale that saw Orr sit with the neck malady. The condition affects less than one percent of people.

He confirmed his retirement, Garafolo tweets, at the scheduled Friday press conference. Orr also insists the Ravens did not talk him out of his decision to retire, Clifton Brown of CSNMidAtlantic.com relays (on Twitter). Rapoport notes (via Twitter) the Ravens’ attempt to discuss a reconsideration centered on whether he was comfortable with his decision rather than the conversation being about disregarding his health for a return for a fourth season.

Orr spent just three seasons in the league after debuting as a UDFA in 2014 for the Ravens. He was eligible for restricted free agency this year. The 24-year-old ‘backer started 15 games in 2016 after being a first-stringer in none of Baltimore’s contests in 2014 or ’15. The team promoted the North Texas alum into its starting lineup alongside C.J. Mosley, where Orr replaced Daryl Smith. He finished the year as the Ravens’ runaway leader in tackles with 130 en route to second-team All-Pro acclaim. Orr also intercepted three passes and recovered two fumbles.

Orr played for the league minimum his first three seasons and was set to cash in either via extension or RFA tender.

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