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Bengals players react to Chris Borland's retirement

Second-year linebacker Chris Borland made the shocking announcement that he's going to retire after only one season, due to concerns about head injuries. Some Bengals players react.

Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

The unexpected announcement that second-year linebacker Chris Borland is retiring from the NFL is sending shockwaves through the league. He's only 24, was one of the league's leading tacklers and a young core player who was developing in San Francisco. Instead, after consulting with his family, friends, concussion researches, and out of fear of head injuries, he retired.

"I just honestly want to do what's best for my health," Borland told "Outside the Lines." "From what I've researched and what I've experienced, I don't think it's worth the risk. I feel largely the same, as sharp as I've ever been. For me, it's wanting to be proactive," Borland said. "I'm concerned that if you wait 'til you have symptoms, it's too late. ... There are a lot of unknowns. I can't claim that X will happen. I just want to live a long, healthy life, and I don't want to have any neurological diseases or die younger than I would otherwise."

Borland, a native of Kettering, concluded his rookie season with more than 100 tackles (despite only starting eight games and sitting out two others) with two interceptions and a quarterback sack.

Bengals players took to Twitter to react.

Kevin Zeitler played with Borland at the University of Wisconsin.