Former Baltimore Ravens linebacker Zach Orr considering comeback

June 28 (UPI) -- In January, Baltimore Ravens linebacker Zach Orr announced his career-ending spinal condition. Now he's considering a comeback.

He appeared on Good Morning Football Wednesday on NFL Network.

"I had my mind made up," he said on Good Morning Football. "I was like man, the doctors told me I was done. This is a serious issue. So I'm going to leave it alone. But I just kept hearing that from multiple people and some were telling me to just go check out and seek out some more opinions and things like that and come to find out my condition, it is rare. .01 percent of the people have what I have...but there's no actual evidence or facts that I'm at a higher risk than any other player. And it's actually been documented that a college player who had the exact same thing that I have that returned to play with no problems."

Orr said that doctors originally told him he was at a higher risk of death or paralysis while playing football.

"As far as me physically, mentally, I'm ready to go," Orr said. "I'm feeling better than ever. I'm feeling like I have these past offseasons and everything like that. So I'm ready to go."

Orr is now an unrestricted free agent. He had 133 tackles and three interceptions in 15 games last season. If Orr hadn't retired last season, he would be a restricted free agent.

NFL.com reported that Orr didn't file retirement papers and the Ravens never put him on the reserve/retired list because he wasn't expected to play again. The tender period has expired to extend restrict free agents.

Orr's retirement came after he had shown off his abilities to the Ravens' brass. CBS Sports reported in January that the team had made progress on a new contract for the North Texas product.

Orr, 25, was an undrafted free agent signing in 2014. He'll still need to be cleared by another team if he decides to complete his comeback.

"I spoke with Zach yesterday and he informed me that he would like to continue to play football. He is a free agent," Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome said Wednesday, according to the Ravens' Twitter account.

Orr's congenital back condition was discovered after Week 16.

"I'm really just blessed and thankful that we were able to find this problem," Orr told Ravens.com at the time. "The doctors and Ravens medical staff probably ended up saving my life, and definitely allowed me to live a normal lifestyle."

"I'm blessed and thankful that I'm able to walk away from the game in good health."

Orr had eight tackles and had an interception in his final game last season, before suffering two herniated discs. The Ravens lost that AFC North bout 31-27. A CAT scan later revealed Orr's condition for the first time.

Orr will visit the Detroit Lions on Thursday, according to ESPN. Eight teams have already reached out to the linebacker, according to the report.