According to Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett, a neck injury is expected to end the playing career of linebacker DeVonte Holloman (link via Jon Machota and Brandon George of the Dallas Morning News). Holloman suffered the injury during the fourth quarter of Saturday’s preseason game against the Ravens.
“DeVonte got information back from the doctors in San Antonio and some other doctors he visited with regarding his neck and it doesn’t look like he’s going to be able to play football anymore,” Garrett said. “This becomes an easy decision for him and his family when you’re dealing with that kind of an injury.”
Holloman, 23, was selected by the Cowboys in the sixth round of the 2013 draft out of South Carolina. He contributed sparingly on defense and special teams up until the last three weeks of the season, when injuries forced him into the role of Dallas’ regular middle linebacker. This isn’t the first neck-related injury for Holloman, who sustained a spinal contusion in practice last season that sidelined him for seven games.
Holloman is the latest young NFL player to see his career prematurely cut short by spine or neck injuries. Others who have been forced into early retirement recently include ex-Packers running back Johnathan Franklin and former Giants running back David Wilson.