Zach Orr Exploring NFL Comeback After Retirement Due to Spine Injury

Former Baltimore Ravens linebacker Zach Orr is reportedly exploring an NFL comeback after he announced his retirement in January due to a spinal condition.

According to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo, Orr is eyeing a return to the gridiron "after receiving more encouraging diagnoses about the congenital spinal condition which initially seemed to doom his NFL career."

"Now that I've gotten a taste of the game being taken away from me, I'm even more hungry to play," Orr said Wednesday on NFL Network's Good Morning Football.

In January, Orr, 25, revealed he had been born with a congenital condition where one of his vertebra hadn't formed fully. As a result, doctors informed Orr he risked death or paralysis if he continued to play, per Garafolo.

When it comes to his future, Orr will have flexibility should he further pursue his goal of making a comeback.

Orr never filed retirement papers and was never extended a restricted free-agent tender by the Ravens since the team believed there was no chance he would return to the field.

Thus, Orr will become an unrestricted free agent and can sign with the team of his choosing. Dan Graziano of ESPN reported that Orr will visit the Lions on Thursday and that eight teams have reached out to the linebacker since his announcement.

In 15 games last season, the inside linebacker led the Ravens with 132 total tackles and recorded three interceptions, two fumble recoveries and five defended passes.