Spinal condition forces Ravens LB Orr to retire

Ravens linebacker Zachary Orr announced his retirement Friday after learning he has a congenital spinal condition.

The 24-year-old Orr led the Ravens this season with 132 tackles. He joined Baltimore in 2014 as an undrafted free agent out of North Texas and stepped into a starting role this year, playing the middle linebacker position once held by Ray Lewis and Daryl Smith.

Orr hurt his neck on Christmas Day in a game against the Steelers and missed the season finale against Cincinnati. An examination revealed he had a herniated disc, but further tests showed a deeper problem.

“The CT scan revealed that I had a condition I was born with that less than one percent of the world has,” Orr said. “At the top of my spine, it was never formed completely. That puts me at a real increased risk.”

Orr was told he could not pass a physical and that playing football was potentially life-threatening, so he had no choice but to retire.

BILLS: Receiver Sammy Watkins has had a second operation in less than a year for a broken left foot and is expected to be sidelined until the start of training camp. Watkins initially had two screws surgically inserted into his left foot in April after tests discovered a stress fracture. The team also announced

Shaq Lawson had surgery for a knee injury.

The team said the defensive lineman is expected to be cleared in time to participate in offseason activities in the spring.

In addition, new coach Sean McDermott is turning his offense over to former Broncos coordinator Rick Dennison. BROWNS: Cleveland is close to finalizing a multi-year contract with talented linebacker Jamie Collins, who joined the team midway through its 1-15 season but showed the Browns that he’s a player worth keeping for a long time. CBSSports.com first reported the Browns and Collins had made significant progress on a contract, which could be completed as early as Friday. VIKINGS: Pat Shumur’s interim tag was lifted as he was named the team’s offensive coordinator. He took over for Norv Turner in November.

The team also hired running backs coach Kennedy

Polamalu and tight ends coach Clancy Barone. Kevin Stefanski switched from running backs coach to quarterbacks coach JAGUARS: Keenan McCardell has been hired as receivers coach, adding one of Tom Coughlin’s more popular players to new coach Doug Marrone’s staff. The Jaguars will play the Ravens in the first game at Wembley Stadium next season on Sept. 24, the NFL announced. The Dolphins will take on the Saints the following weekend at English soccer’s national stadium.