Bills offensive lineman Tommy Doyle was forced to quit it with his NFL career after increasing foot injuries.
Doyle, 26, who is Buffalo's fifth pick in 2021 from Miami (Ohio), had to retire medically on Friday after playing only 12 games in four seasons.
Doyle shed tears from the ACL during his third week match against the Dolphins in 2022, suffering another serious leg injury between the 2023 preseason game and the Steelers.
His recent injury left him with nerve damage, which did not go away.
“At this point, it appears to be permanent due to the calendar and healing process,” Doyle said in a statement. “I just can't play soccer at a high level. That's time. When you know what you know.”
That was all I had to quit.
“I was really fighting, competing and working to get back from that (ACL) injury, and I was even more impressed with the dire injuries,” Doyle said. “But at the end of the day, there have been a lot of negative emotions and anger… I've looked back on it recently after a lot of reflection and I've learned a lot of valuable lessons from it.”
Doyle played as a rookie in 11 of his 12 games. This included a playoff touchdown.
He caught a 1-yard pass from Joshu Allen during the Patriots' 47-17 runaway during a wildcard round.
“Soccer is something I love and put in life,” Doyle said. “And I spent a lot of time, effort and energy trying to get back to the field. But in the end, it's not really a plan that God has for me, I think it's I know it's true. I feel this is the time to announce it and move on.”
He said he remembers the relationships he has built most with his teammates, coaches, trainers and fans.
Doyle is ready to move to the next stage of his life as an NFL fan and may be with Bills fans before the game.
“I'd probably want to come to the tailgate and drink the blue lights from the labot,” Doyle said.
The bill is out of a season that ended with a loss of the AFC Championship game to the Chiefs.
