Seattle Seahawks running back Chris Carson plans to retire after five NFL seasons due to a neck injury, a source confirmed to ESPN.
The team is releasing Carson with a failed physical designation, a source confirmed to ESPN.
Carson's retirement is a blow to Seattle's backfield but not a surprising outcome given the uncertainty with his football future. Multiple Seahawks sources have expressed doubt in recent months that he'd be medically cleared after having what coach Pete Carroll described as fusion surgery in December.
The team has been preparing to proceed without him, re-signing Rashaad Penny in March before drafting Kenneth Walker III in the second round of April's draft.