Report: Heart Condition Could Cost Nick Fairley His Career
By: Will Burchfield
@burchie_kid
Former Lions defensive tackle Nick Fairley won't play for the Saints this season due to a heart condition, and he may not play again in the NFL.
Per Adam Schefter, Fairley's football career could be over.
Updated: With Saints DT Nick Fairley being placed on reserve/non-football injury, he's now out for 2017. Officially. NFL time could be over.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 26, 2017
Fairley, 29, missed the Saints' OTAs earlier this month and was officially placed on the team's reserve/non-football injury list on Monday.
Saints placed Nick Fairley on reserve/non-football-injury with his heart condition, per source, a sign he's not playing this year.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 26, 2017
Fairley's heart condition came up in his pre-draft physical before the Lions selected him with the 13th overall pick in 2011. But it wasn't considered career-threatening until a recent report from Jennifer Hale.
Saints DT Nick Fairley has been absent from OTA's bc of medical issues. Tests show heart trouble that could jeopardize future of his career.
— Jennifer Hale (@JenHale504) June 3, 2017
Prayers up to ma boy! ???????????????????????? https://t.co/X5dBXlDOaD
— Ezekiel Ansah (@Ziggy_Ansah) June 4, 2017
Fairley spent the first four seasons of his career with the Lions, from 2011 to 2014. Plagued by injuries and inconsistency, the team declined his fifth-year option after the 2013 season. He signed a one-year deal with the Rams in 2015 before agreeing to a four-year, $28 million contract with the Saints in March.
The Saints are not obligated to pay Fairley as long as he's on the reserve/non-football injury list.