Ramczyk has a cartilage defect in his knee. NFL future uncertain

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METAIRIE, La. -- New Orleans Saints right tackle Ryan Ramczyk said he has a cartilage defect in his knee that has cast uncertainty on his NFL future beyond the 2023 season.

The 29-year-old Ramczyk, who missed the last two games with the knee injury, said he's going to talk with doctors in the offseason to see if there is anything that could fix the issues that have lingered for the last three seasons.

"I don't know," Ramczyk said about a possible fix. "I think those are the discussions we are going to have, that need to be had, and we'll go from there. ... I'll talk with surgeons, doctors, get as much as information as I can and then just make the best decision."

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Ramczyk said there is not a lot of cartilage left in the injured knee, and the wear and tear of playing in the NFL has taken its toll.

"This year it's bugged me a little bit more than it has in the past," he said. "At some point, I just couldn't play anymore."

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There will be significant salary cap implications for the Saints if Ramczyk retires. His cap number of $27 million will be the Saints' fourth-highest number in 2024, and the team is projected to be significantly over the cap again. Releasing Ramczyk before June 1 would result in a $32 million dead money hit due to the prorated signing bonus amounts remaining on his deal.

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