Report: Austin Wentworth Retiring Due To Illness #NFL #Vikings (h/t @christomasson) http://t.co/O51d8uBIV2 pic.twitter.com/kp322TbjWO
— The Daily Norseman (@DailyNorseman) May 13, 2015
Last year he was thought to be a promising young prospect along the offensive line, but after just one season in the NFL, a medical condition has forced Austin Wentworth to retire.
The 25-year-old told the Pioneer Press’ Chris Tomasson that tissue clots in his legs are forcing him from the game.
Guard Austin Wentworth says NFL career is over after one Vikings season after suffering clots in legs, losing muscle: http://t.co/WHTWyHrxP6
— Chris Tomasson (@christomasson) May 13, 2015
“I came home and my legs went completely numb,” Wentworth told the Pioneer Press Wednesday. “It was all within 15 minutes. My legs started tingling and went completely numb and I couldn’t walk.”
After being rushed to the hospital doctors determined Wentworth had tissue clots in his legs that were blocking the blood flow. He underwent surgery and spent two weeks in the hospital recovering and rehabbing the injury.
Wentworth will have to wear a brace for the rest of his life, meaning his NFL career is over after just one season with the Vikings.
Wentworth came to the Vikings as an undrafted free agent out of Fresno State. He started the season on the practice squad, but he impressed Vikings coaches and after injuries cost the team two starters along the offensive line, he was moved to the active roster and played in seven games as a rookie.
Instead of returning to compete for the starting job at left guard, Wentworth was waived by the Vikings last week and after he cleared, he was moved to the team’s reserve/non-football illness list – meaning he doesn’t count against the Vikings offseason roster limit of 90.
The Daily Norseman notes that Wentworth is the second recently released Vikings lineman to announce his retirement. Antonio Richardson also hung it up because of knee problems, after the Vikings also released him last week.
