The Cowboys’ Pro Bowl center is unexpectedly retiring

The Dallas Cowboys’ 2020 offseason thus far has been defined by loss. The following starters have left in free agency: Byron Jones, Robert Quinn, Randall Cobb, Maliek Collins, Jason Witten, Jeff Heath, and Xavier Su’a-Filo.

Now the Cowboys are losing another key player. Five-time Pro Bowl center Travis Frederick is retiring from the NFL. His official statement:

Frederick missed the entire 2018 season with Guillain Barre Syndrome, a rare autoimmune disorder. Thankfully he was able to recover. Frederick played all 16 games upon returning in 2019 and was named to his fifth Pro Bowl. Now he’s walking away from the NFL despite the fact he turned 29 five days ago and was signed though the 2023 season.

This is a big loss for the Cowboys. It’s not an insurmountable one considering Dallas won the NFC East in 2018 with Joe Looney — who was recently re-signed — starting at center. But having Frederick for 2020 obviously would’ve been preferable. Now the Cowboys are suddenly dealing with another hole to fill. The Philadelphia Eagles probably don’t hate to see it.

Here’s the reaction from over at Blogging The Boys: