Cliff Avril wants to step foot back on the field despite suffering a career-defining neck injury in the midst of the 2017 season. Unfortunately, Avril has only just found out he won’t be playing football in a Seahawks jersey anytime soon after a failed physical designation lead to him being cut.
Avril, who was a 3rd rounder in 2008 drafted by the Detroit Lions, where he spent the first 5 years of his career signed with the seahawks during the 2013 free agency period. Whilst with the Seahawks he wracked up an impressive 11.5 sacks in 2016.
Most recently, the 2017 season was a disaster for Avril. After playing in 4 games he suffered a season-ending neck injury that required surgery. The same injury which lead us to where we are right now with his career.
How do the Seahawks move on?
This is developing into something of a theme for Seattle fans as another veteran SB48 hero departs CenturyLink Field. Michael Bennett, Richard Sherman have already left and it’s widely expected that Kam Chancellor will also move on this off season.
Even Earl Thomas has been the subject of trade rumors throughout the 2018 offseason.
Cutting Avril makes little sense to me from a timing standpoint. Admittedly they save over $7 Million from the release, however we’re so late into the off season that I can’t see where they could realistically add value. If this were to happen at the beginning of free agency perhaps Seattle could have improved their offensive line somewhat, giving some relief to Russell Wilson.
This brings the total available cap space for Seattle to $14.5 Million.
What’s next for Avril?
The short answer is we don’t know. The long answer it fully depends on how his rehab develops and how long it’ll take him to be cleared by doctors to play again.
Avril himself has openly declared that he wants to get back on the field. “I believe so,” Avril told NFL Network’s Steve Wyche on The Aftermath. “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.”
But head coach Pete Carroll said during one of his weekly appearances on Seattle’s 710 ESPN in January that Avril (as well as Chancellor) would have “a hard time playing football again.”
In a goodbye message to Seattle fans on Instagram, Avril didn’t mention his future but he produce a brilliant tribute to the 12th man.
Will we see Avril play again? possibly. Although right now it doesn’t look optimistic for the dominant edge rusher.
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