Linebacker Russell Allen, who spent five seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars before being released by them last week, has announced he is retiring after suffering a concussion and a stroke in a game last December.
Allen told MMQB.si.com that he has a small dead spot on his cerebellum, a result of a hit which he said he took during the third quarter of a game against the Buffalo Bills. He played the rest of the game but spent the final two weeks on the injured reserve list.
The last of the three neurosurgeons he saw after his initial stroke diagnosis advised Allen to quit playing football.
Allen, who turns 28 next month, was one of the few starters on defense left over from a team which went 2-14 in 2012. Prior to his injury, he had played in 78 consecutive games since being signed as an undrafted rookie in 2009.
The Jaguars added Dekoda Watson, most recently a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, during the recent free-agent signing period. He will likely be the leading candidate to take over Allen's spot.
You can follow Ken Hornack on Twitter @HornackFSFla or email him at khornack32176@gmail.com.
