Former Packers, Chargers All-Pro OL is expected to retire

All-Pro center Corey Linsley was released by the Los Angeles Chargers on Wednesday, and according to ESPN's Kris Rhim, the former Green Bay Packers fifth-round pick is retiring from the NFL after 10 seasons in the league.

Linsley was only able to appear in three games with the Chargers during the 2023 campaign due to a heart issue, which is what has ultimately forced him to retire.

His first season with Los Angeles came back in 2021 when he signed a five-year contract worth $62.5M. A few months after joining the Chargers, Linsely went on to start 16 games with his new team and earn the second Pro Bowl selection of his NFL career while also finishing with the second-best offensive grade from PFF among all qualifying centers in the league.

His performance fell back a bit in his second year with Los Angeles, but he was still a solid piece of the team's offensive line, starting 14 games and finishing with the eighth-best offensive grade from PFF among the qualifying centers in the NFL.

Prior to signing a massive contract with the Chargers during the 2021 offseason, Linsely spent the first seven years of his career in the league as a member of the Packers.

Green Bay selected him in the fifth round of the 2014 NFL Draft and he was immediately inserted into the team's starting lineup. Linsely went on to start all 16 games at center in his first season with the Packers, and as a result of his performance, he was selected to the 2014 NFL All-Rookie Team.

He remained Green Bay's starting center for the next handful of years, but the best season of his pro career came during his final one with the Packers in 2020.

That year, he only allowed a total of four quarterback pressures in 13 starts, which resulted in him finishing with the best offensive grade from PFF among all centers in the NFL and earning his one and only first-team All-Pro selection.

It turned out to be great timing for Linsley, who became a free agent after the 2020 season and eventually cashed in with Los Angeles in the offseason.

During his 10 years in the NFL, the veteran center appeared in a total of 132 games and he was in the starting lineup for each and every one.

Linsley's role as the Chargers' starting center is expected to be taken over by veteran Bradley Bozeman, who the team signed in free agency earlier this year.