Report: Doug Baldwin May Retire Due to 'Cumulative Effect' of Multiple Injuries

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin's NFL career may finish prematurely "due to the cumulative effect of multiple injuries," per Adam Schefter of ESPN.    

The eight-year veteran is one of the game's tougher players: The physical 5'10" wideout has missed only five regular-season games and played a full 16-game regular season on six occasions.

Last year was a struggle for Baldwin, as he suffered a Grade 2 MCL sprain, a hip injury and an elbow injury. However, he still played 13 games and amassed 50 catches for 618 yards and five touchdowns for the 10-6 Seahawks, who earned a wild-card berth.

During the offseason, Baldwin underwent surgery on his groin and shoulder, per Schefter.

Gregg Bell of the News-Tribune spoke in December with Baldwin, who responded "I do" when asked whether he thought about how much longer he could play after his 2018 season.

If Baldwin has played his last down, he will be missed.

Off the field, Bell called him "perhaps the most thoughtful, insightful athlete I’ve covered in 20 years of sports journalism."

He's also one of the NFL's great humanitarians and was nominated for the 2018 Ali Sports Humanitarian Award.

On the field, Baldwin is a two-time Pro Bowler who led the NFL with 14 receiving touchdowns in 2015. He has eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards twice and taken part in two NFC Championship teams, one of which won Super Bowl XLVIII.

Baldwin accomplished these feats despite being undrafted out of Stanford in 2011. He signed with Seattle as a free agent.

Without Baldwin, the Seahawks' wide receiver core will likely consist of Tyler Lockett, second-round draft pick D.K. Metcalf, David Moore and Jaron Brown.

However, it's certainly possible Baldwin could return healthy enough for 2019. He has two years left on his current deal.