Seahawks Cliff Avril heads to IR and mulling retirement

Coach Pete Carroll on Wednesday said Seahawks defensive end Cliff Avril is headed to Injured Reserve. Avril is also thinking about retirement. What does this mean?

Cliff Avril, the Seahawks great and excellent defensive end, may never play again. Let me be clear about that. The life of an NFL player lasts on average four years. Avril is now in his tenth year in the league. He has had a very good career.

But it may be over. Avril, on top of being placed on IR by the Seahawks, basically meaning he will not play again this season, is thinking about retirement. This according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network.

Avril has already missed one game. Thankfully Frank Clark, Avril’s naturally replacement, played like a beast in the second half and diminished Avril’s absence. For the Seahawks to be very good in 2017, not only will Clark have to continue this type of performance, the rest of the Seahawks defensive linemen will have to step up too. Avril is a great pass rusher. His absence was felt in the Super Bowl against the New England Patriots when he left with injury. Avril will be missed this year as well.

Trying to put a positive spin on this, Clark will now get more snaps. This also opens a roster spot for…I don’t know, an offensive lineman? Or two?

The Sheldon Richardson addition this offseason now looms much larger. The Seahawks, though, now lack true quality depth. Sure, Marcus Smith has played alright. But he is no Clark, who was Avril’s replacement.

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Let’s hope the Seahawks have no more significant injuries.