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The Washington Redskins talked projected starting safety Su'a Cravens out of retiring at the age of 22. Cravens told some within the organization this weekend that he was planning to retire, but a meeting with the team's coaches and executives changed his mind for now, league sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.
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The Redskins were sent scrambling when Cravens came to Redskins Park on Sunday morning to inform team president Bruce Allen of his decision to retire, a person with knowledge of the situation told the Washington Post. Allen was able to convince Cravens to postpone his decision.
Cravens, who has been nursing a knee injury, now is expected to miss the start of the season as Washington helps him address his issues rather than have him walk away from the game, according to ESPN.
The Redskins will place Cravens on the exempt list, which will give him a month to resolve personal issues that played a role in his decision, the Washington Post reported.
Cravens injured his knee during the preseason opener after working as a starter throughout training camp. He was moved to the secondary this year after playing a hybrid safety/linebacker role in 2016.
The 6-foot-1, 224-pound Cravens, a second-round pick out of USC in 2016, recorded 34 tackles, one sack and one interception in 11 games (three starts) during his rookie season.
On Saturday night, Cravens informed his fellow defensive backs in a group text message that he was retiring, a second person familiar with the situation told the Washington Post.
"Shocking," Redskins safety D.J. Swearinger told reporters Sunday after hearing the news. "He has to handle what he needs to handle, whether mental or with his family. We're here to support him. That's tough. I'm not in those shoes, so I can't speak on him, so whatever he's dealing with I'm praying for him and hopefully he'll be back.
"If it's family issues, personal issues, whatever he's dealing with, I'm supportive. Hopefully he'll deal with what he has to deal with and be back out here."
