The Buffalo Bills received some unfortunate news on Friday regarding their starting center Eric Wood.
According to a report from Scout Fantasy Sports, Wood suffered a serious neck injury and will be forced to retire as a result. The 31-year-old spent nine seasons in the NFL, all with the Bills. Wood was the second-longest tenured player on the roster behind Kyle Williams.
Our sources that have led us here have informed us it's a career ending neck injury and the player is former Louisville Cardinal and current @BuffaloBills center Eric Wood. Our heart goes out to him, his family and former and current teammates. @GoCards #L1C4 #BillsMafia
— FullTime Fantasy (@FullTimeFantasy) January 26, 2018
Buffalo Bills Starting Center Eric Wood Forced to Retire After Nine Seasons
Wood later confirmed the news on his Twitter account. He detailed that doctors diagnosed the injury during a season-ending physical. They emphasized to him that surgery or further treatment would not correct the issue and as a result, they could not clear him to play football any longer.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter later tweeted that the injury is primarily due to wear and tear. However, his sources also indicated to him that it’s a “complicated medical situation.”
The news comes as a shock considering Wood’s extensive playing time in 2017. He started all 16 games during the regular season as well as Buffalo’s first postseason appearance since January 8, 2000. All in all, his 1,130 snaps played ranked sixth in the league among all centers this past season.
Buffalo signed Wood to a two-year, $16 million extension ahead of the 2017 season. He repaid that faith with solid offensive line play all year. Pro Football Focus gave him the 11th highest grade among players at his position who registered a minimum of 1,000 snaps.
Wood made his lone Pro Bowl in 2015. That year, his team and the NFL also recognized him for his work in the Buffalo community as the Bills’ nominee for Walter Payton Man of the Year. He was also nominated for the award a year later. His Eric Wood Fund provides chronically ill and special needs children throughout Western New York with “daily encouragement and life-changing experiences.”
The Bills selected Wood 28th overall in the 2009 NFL Draft. It came after a standout collegiate career at Louisville that saw him earn first-team All-Big East honors in 2007 and 2008.
