49ers Anthony Davis Retiring 'For A Year or So' Over Health Concerns

• comments
• 
• 

The San Francisco 49ers have just announced that another player has retired. The fourth member of the team to walk away during the offseason is right Tackle Anthony Davis who follows linebackers Patrick Willis, 30, and Chris Borland, 24, along with 35-year-old defensive lineman Justin Smith. 

According to NFL.com, the 49ers starter announced on Friday that he will no longer be playing football this year. A statement released by the 25-year-old says:

"After a few years of thought, I've decided it will be best for me to take a year or so away from the NFL. This will be a time for me to allow my Brain and Body a chance to heal. I know many won't understand my decision, that's ok.

I hope you too have the courage to live your life how you planned it when day dreaming to yourself growing up. Your Life is Your dream and you have the power to control that dream. I'm simply doing what's best for my body as well as my mental health at this time in my life."

The league's official site does note that the mention of a "year or so" hints that the departure could be a sabbatical, according to a 49ers statement on the issue, the star starting athlete "informed the team he plans to retire." 

It was reported that Davis sent a text to San Francisco coach Jim Tomsula days before the team's scheduled minicamp set to begin next week. 

"The 49ers organization thanks Anthony for his contributions to our team over the last five seasons and wishes him the best as he moves on from the game," 49ers general manager Trent Baalke said in a statement (via ESPN).

"Anthony's been working on himself right now. That's what he's been doing," added Tomsula said. "Look, Anthony wants to step away, and he wants to get his mind and his body right, and that's where he wants to go and he has every right to do that."

After all the challenges being faced by the team with regards to its roster, Tomsula remained upbeat. He shared that there are players who are doing well and the start of the training camp is very exciting. "We're really excited about the guys that are here. That's what we've said all along. The focus is on the guys that are here and the guys that are doing what they are doing."

Davis has been a starter for the team throughout his five seasons in the NFL except for last year when he sat out of nine games due to injuries including a concussion late in the season.