Offensive lineman Isaac Asiata announced his retirement from the NFL on Tueaday just one week after signing with the Buffalo Bills.
Asiata, 26, announced his decision on social media, citing “constant anxiety, persistent worry and fear of the unknown.”
“I have lived the last two years of my NFL career waging war with myself mentally,” Asiata wrote on Twitter. “With constant anxiety, persistent worry and fear of the unknown and of what comes next? If I were to be done. I also placed the unnecessary burden on my shoulders of never wanting to let people down or to disappoint those around me. Afraid of being a ‘draft bust’ or just another guy who couldn’t cut it in the league.”
Asiata was drafted out of the University of Utah by the Miami Dolphins in the fifth round (No. 164 overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft. He appeared in two games for the Dolphins over his first two seasons. He spent most of his time on the practice squad and was released this offseason. Buffalo signed Asiata on July 23.
Asiata is the second Bills player to retire in the last two weeks, following the retirement of safety Rafael Bush.
In a corresponding move, the Bills signed offensive lineman Nico Siragusa, a fourth-round pick of the Ravens in the 2017 NFL Draft. Siragusa, 25, has yet to appear in an NFL game after spending his rookie season on injured reserve and most of last season on the Ravens practice squad. He finished the season with the Green Bay Packers but did not appear in any games and spent a brief time with the Indianapolis Colts this offseason.
–Field Level Media
