Center JC Tretter announced his retirement from professional football on his Twitter account on Thursday. He was originally a fourth-round selection in the 2013 NFL draft by the Green Bay Packers out of Cornell. Tretter spent the first three years of his NFL career in Green Bay before joining the Cleveland Browns, where he played the final five years of his career. The 31-year-old played in exactly 16 games in all five of his seasons in Cleveland and finishes with 111 games played (90 starts) in his eight NFL campaigns. Tretter has been the president of the NFL Players Association since the 2020 season.
The Cleveland Browns released center JC Tretter on Tuesday, according to a source. The move will clear $8.2 million in salary cap space for the Browns, but they'll also be losing one of the most reliable centers in the NFL. With the 31-year-old moving on, Cleveland appears set to give Nick Harris the starting job at center moving forward. Tretter, who is the president of the players union, has only missed one game in the last five years. He was initially a fourth-round pick by the Green Bay Packers in 2013 out of Cornell, and he spent the first three seasons of his career in Green Bay before joining the Browns in 2017.
Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said that center JC Tretter was placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list on Thursday. Tretter isn't officially ruled out, but this late in the week, it's unlikely that he'll clear the COVID protocols in time to play on Saturday against the Green Bay Packers in Week 16. The 30-year-old's absence this weekend would be a downgrade for the Browns offensive line, but the good news is that they are expected to get starting left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. back from the COVID list on Friday. Nick Harris would be in line to draw the start at center if Tretter is inactive.
Cleveland Browns center JC Tretter (knee) returned to practice on Monday. Tretter missed most of training camp after having what was termed a cleanup procedure on his knee. Tretter's return brings the Cleveland offensive line back to full strength the week before they open the season against the Baltimore Ravens. Tretter being back pushes rookie center Nick Harris to a reserve role after Harris had been taking snaps at center with the first team during Tretter's absence.
Cleveland Browns center JC Tretter underwent knee surgery on Thursday according to head coach Kevin Stefanski. The veteran lineman reportedly had the surgery to remove loose bodies from the knee. Stefanski would not elaborate on how long Tretter would be out but the NFL Network reported that he will probably only miss a couple weeks. In Tretters absence, rookie center Nick Harris will get a chance to show what he can do. Tretter is a key piece to a revamped Cleveland offensive line this year.
