After weeks of careful deliberation, the Carolina Panthers have officially released offensive tackle, Michael Oher after two seasons with the team.
In an announcement made Thursday by the Panthers, it was revealed that Oher had “failed a physical,” also confirmed in a tweet from NFL Network reporter, Tom Pelissero.
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A press release from the team states that Oher started the first of three games in the 2016 season before a concussion caused him to remain inactive for the next seven games. It was from then on that the 31-year-old was placed on the injured reserve list.
This past summer, The Charlotte Observer stated that the Panthers coach, Ron Rivera didn’t say much about Oher, but “did not sound like a coach who expects to have Oher with him in Spartanburg.”
On Thursday, Rivera said Michael’s health always came first, especially when making such a decision.
“The most important thing is his health,” Rivera said to staff writer of the NFL team, Max Henson. “We were not going to force the issue. Michael understood and we expressed that to him.”
Oher took to social media this afternoon, sharing a few thoughts about his release that has fans hoping he stays on the right track with his health.
On Twitter, Oher wrote, “The Brain is a scary thing. You have to be careful with it,” while on Instagram, he posted a quote that read, “The first step of change is to become aware of your own limiting beliefs.”
This past June, Oher sparked concern when he posted an Instagram image showing an alarming number of pill bottles before quickly deleting it. The snapshot worried fans, friends and analysts who were taken aback by his silence on the major issue.
More: Carolina Panthers Player Michael Oher’s Deleted Instagram Photo Sparks Concerns
Oher joined the Panthers in 2015, starting all 16 regular season games and three postseason games for a team that went on to win the NFC Championship and advance to the Super Bowl 50. However, this past season proved difficult for the Tennessee native and former Baltimore Ravens player whose life inspired the film, The Blind Side.
According to The Tennessean, Oher is due in court Friday on a misdemeanor assault charge stemming from a confrontation with an Uber driver in Nashville.
Photo credit: Twitter / @katiegamble221
