Abraham, 36, is suffering from severe memory loss and has been for well more than a year, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter last week. Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
The Arizona Cardinals placed linebacker John Abraham on season-ending injured reserve Friday due to ongoing concussion issues.
Abraham left the team last week after suffering from memory loss due to concussions, but returned to the team Monday. Unfortunately, he was never able to get through the concussion protocol.
By coming back and being put on IR, Abraham still receives his $3 million salary.
On Tuesday night, coach Bruce Arians said on SiriusXM NFL Radio that Abraham had not been cleared to return from a concussion suffered in Week 1.
During his Monday news conference, Arians said the NFL’s active sacks leader went to a neurologist to begin the final stages of the concussion protocol.
“He’s more than ready,” Arians said Monday. “We just go to get him to pass the concussion protocol. He did not pass today. We’ll have to wait and see when we can do it again. Hopefully we’ll have him for this week. But he’s excited.
“When you get that first concussion, and he had a big one, I think it shakes you up sometimes and he thought real hard about it and he’s talked to a bunch of different folks, me included, and stepped back and I think the rest and just sitting back this weekend, staying home, he missed it a lot. He’s more than ready to roll for down the stretch.”
According to ESPN, Abraham suffered his first reported concussion during the third quarter of Arizona’s win over San Diego on Monday Night Football in Week 1. A day later, Arians and Abraham discussed Abraham’s future with the five-time Pro Bowler telling his coach he “wasn’t in it” and he took a five-day leave of absence.
Abraham, 36, is suffering from severe memory loss and has been for well more than a year, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter last week.
“We mentioned the concussion but it was nothing as much as not being accountable to his teammates and having the full desire to play,” Arians said. “I did not see the evidence of that. In his play, I thought he played his tail off.”
Abraham entered the season No. 9 on the all-time sacks list with 133.5. He was chosen with the 13th pick of the 2000 draft by the New York Jets.
Abraham’s spot on the roster was filled when the Cardinals re-signed punter Drew Butler. Butler was necessary after punter Dave Zastudil suffered a setback with his groin injury in practice.
