Seahawks defensive end Chris Clemons plans to retire

Defensive end Chris Clemons, a key member of the Seahawks’ 2013 Super Bowl title team who had re-signed with the team in the offseason, is planning to retire.

A report that came initially from Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network has since been confirmed by the Seattle Times.

With players due to report Friday for the beginning of training camp on Saturday, Clemons instead informed the Seahawks Thursday that he is planning to move on from football.

Clemons, 34, signed a one-year deal worth a maximum of $1.5 million to return to the Seahawks in April. But only $150,000 of that was guaranteed (a signing bonus) with Clemons having to earn the rest, which indicated that it was far from a given that he would make the final 53-man roster.

Clemons played for the Seahawks from 2010-13 before being released and signing with Jacksonville, a four-year deal worth $17.5 million overall.

Clemons started 11 games for the Seahawks in 2013 when he had 4.5 sacks, then added another in the playoffs.

He was originally acquired by Seattle in 2010 in a trade with Philadelphia and immediately gave the Seahawks a pass-rushing threat off the edge that had been previously lacking, getting 11 sacks in 2010 and 2011 and 11.5 in 2012.

It had been expected that Clemons would compete for a situational pass-rushing role in his second go-around with the Seahawks.

Clemons played 662 snaps for the Jaguars last season. While he had just three sacks, the Seahawks felt he still has enough to perform well as a pass rusher, something the team needs after the departure of Bruce Irvin via free agency.

The retirement opens a spot on Seattle’s 90-man training camp roster. It also leaves the Seahawks with eight players listed as defensive ends — Michael Bennett, Cliff Avril, Frank Clark, Cassius Marsh, Tavaris Barnes, David Perkins, Ryan Robinson and Montese Overton.