Well, on Monday, the Pittsburgh Steelers have made this a reality by releasing corner Ryan Watts. This decision comes after a career-ending neck injury he suffered in the last preseason game of his first year in the league. After lengthy consultation with team physicians and other medical experts, the decision to release Watts was reached. What motivated this decision was putting his health and well-being first.
Watts, a 2024 sixth-round NFL Draft pick, dealt with much larger hurdles over the course of the past year. He had a standout collegiate career at Ohio State, then Texas, garnering 100 tackles and three interceptions. Sadly, an injury suffered this year has now made it impossible for him to continue playing football. He has publicly shared his recovery journey through social media. In one especially impactful Instagram post, he shared a photo of himself in a hospital bed, clad in a neck brace.
“This has easily been one of the hardest years of my life,” Watts stated in his post, reflecting on the struggles he faced since the injury. He expressed hope and resilience despite the circumstances, noting, “Through serious injury and all, I will remain optimistic because I can do ALL things through HIM. Road to recovery …”
Steelers General Manager Omar Khan spoke to the organization’s commitment to Watts, who is going through a challenging time. He stated, “We all agree that it’s in Ryan’s best interest to discontinue playing football at this time.” Khan reassured Julian that the team would rally around him. They will continue to be home with him as he takes big steps into this next phase of his life.
Watts’ injury ended his debut season before it began, and forced Minnesota to consider the long-term implications of his health. Ultimately, the decision to cut him shows that the organization cares most about what happens to their players, and that’s the most important thing. The Steelers have a long tradition of valuing their players’ lives after the game, and this is another example of that.
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