The Bills were given some shocking news at the end of their 2017 season as it was discovered that Eric Wood has a career-ending neck injury.
Buffalo Bills Insider Chris Brown provides the details. Here is his report:
The Bills were the recipients of some unfortunate news as they head into the 2018 offseason. Team captain and starting center Eric Wood’s NFL career is over.
During Wood’s exit physical at the end of the 2017 season a discovery was made that would put the center’s future health at risk were he to continue to play football.
“I was diagnosed with a neck injury as part of my season-ending physical with the Bills,” said Wood in a team-issued statement. “After consultation with Dr. Cappuccino and other physicians, I was informed that I was no longer cleared to play football, even with surgery or further treatment.
I appreciate and thank everyone for their thoughts, concerns and prayers, and I will shed more light on the situation at a press conference on Monday at the team facility.”
A press conference will be held by the team on Monday with Wood and GM Brandon Beane at 1 pm.
It was clear that Wood, age 31, had every intention of continuing his career when he spoke to the media at locker clean out day following the Bills loss in the AFC Wild Card game to Jacksonville.
“We finished the season with some momentum and obviously Sunday didn’t turn out the way we wanted, but there’s a lot to build on,” Wood said earlier this month. “I’m excited for 2018.”
Wood has been the anchor on Buffalo’s offensive line for the last nine seasons. The former first-round pick stepped right into the starting lineup at guard as a rookie and took over in the pivot in his third season with the Bills.
He was a key part of a rebuilt offensive line for Buffalo that resulted in the Bills leading the league in rushing yards and yards per carry average in both 2015 and 2016. It helped to earn Wood his first Pro Bowl selection in 2015.
The center played 120 games for the Bills and recently called the end of the playoff drought his best professional memory.
“Yeah it was great to get that monkey off our back,” he said of finally reaching the postseason. “That celebration, coming backing to Buffalo and the fans at the airport, and our locker room scene, that’s about as much fun as I’ve had at any moment in my life, especially playing football. That was a special memory I’ll never forget.”
Bills fans won’t soon forget him either.