Jets defensive end Vinny Curry reveals he had his spleen removed after getting diagnosed with rare blood disorder and will miss the 2021 season
New York Jets defensive end Vinny Curry announced Wednesday he has a rare blood disorder that required his spleen to be removed and will miss the 2021 season.
The 33-year-old Curry wrote on Twitter and Instagram that Jets team doctors discovered the disorder last month, but he didn't specify the condition ailing him.
Curry said he was projected to return to the field in mid-September, but he developed blood clots and is taking blood thinners that prevent him from having physical contact for the next three to six months.
New York Jets defensive end Vinny Curry announced Wednesday he has a rare blood disorder that required his spleen to be removed and will miss the 2021 season
The 33-year-old Curry announced the news in posts on both Twitter and Instagram
'In July, the Jets doctors diagnosed me with a rare blood disorder,' he wrote. 'The diagnoses required the removal of my spleen and projected me to return to the field in the middle of September.
'During my recovery blood clots formed and forced me to go on blood thinners preventing me from having physical contact for the next three to six months.
'While I am incredibly disappointed that I will not be able to play with my teammates this year, I am thankful that the doctors identified my condition in time,' he continued. 'They have informed me that I am expected to make a full recovery and return to the field next season.'
Curry was signed to a one-year, $1.3 million deal in March to help boost the Jets' pass rush. He had been on the active/non-football injury list throughout training camp. He was placed on the reserve/non-football injury list Tuesday, ending his season.
In his Twitter post, which included the words 'God Got Me,' Curry thanked everyone who had already reached out to him to wish him well.
'I am so grateful to all those who have reached out to me on the phone, through social media, and in person,' he concluded. 'I can promise them all that I will be back stronger and more determined than ever.'
Vinny Curry arrives to Michael Rubin's Fanatics Super Bowl Party at the College Football Hall of Fame in 2019
The Neptune, New Jersey, native was a second-round pick of Philadelphia in 2012 out of Marshall and developed into a pass-rushing specialist during his first six years with the Eagles. He played in Tampa Bay during the 2018 season, but returned to Philadelphia the following year.
Curry was on the sideline with the Jets defense Wednesday as New York finished two days of joint practice sessions with Philadelphia. He playfully exchanged trash talk with his former Eagles teammates during some plays. After a would-be sack in practice, Philadelphia defensive tackle Javon Hargrave did a sack dance that he later said was in tribute to Curry.
Curry has 32 1/2 career sacks and 92 quarterback hits in nine NFL seasons. It was that disruptive presence New York was hoping to add to its revamped defensive line that includes Quinnen Williams, Sheldon Rankins, Folorunso Fatukasi and John Franklin-Myers.
'Gone miss you out there bruh, we got you tho,' Franklin-Myers wrote on Twitter.
Robert Saleh's defense has taken a few major injury hits this summer with Curry, defensive end Carl Lawson out for the year with a ruptured Achilles tendon and linebacker Jarrad Davis sidelined two months with an ankle injury.
'We were blessed that we were able to find some things that were going unnoticed,' Saleh said of Curry's situation. 'He´s been so productive in his career. His leadership, first and foremost, and just his overall energy and positivity that he brings. It hurts.'
The New Jersey, native was a second-round pick of Philadelphia in 2012 out of Marshall and developed into a pass-rushing specialist during his first six years with the Eagles. He played in Tampa Bay during the 2018 season, but returned to Philadelphia the following year