The Pittsburgh Steelers are releasing second-year cornerback Ryan Watts due to health concerns, the team announced Monday.
Watts, who suffered a neck injury during the 2024 preseason, will be medically retired at the age of 23.
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In a statement, Steelers general manager Omar Khan said that the team will support Watts as he moves on from football.
“Unfortunately, today we are releasing Ryan Watts from our roster. 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,” Khan wrote in the statement. “We will continue to assist and support Ryan as he transitions to the next phase of his life.”
Watts injured his neck last summer during Pittsburgh’s final preseason game against the Detroit Lions. The injury ended his rookie season.
In January, Watts posted an update on his recovery on social media, saying that he “will remain optimistic.” The story included a picture of him in a hospital bed with a neck brace.
Watts played at Ohio State for the first two years of his college career before transferring to Texas. In two seasons with the Longhorns, Watts racked up 89 total tackles, including 63 solo tackles, in 24 games.
The Steelers selected Watts in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft.