On Monday, Ray Lewis announced that he would no longer compete on the “Dancing with the Stars” show due to an old foot injury that flared up.
Explaining why the former NFL linebacker had to quit the season, Tom Bergeron, the show’s host, said, “An old injury flared up.”
Lewis’ former partner, Cheryl Burke, wrote on her Instagram account, “Dancing with Ray has meant so much to me. His positivity and dedication are admirable, and his smile is contagious. The hard work he put into every practice and performance is something only a true athlete could do.”
“Being an athlete means pushing yourself past your limits, but also knowing when to take care of your body,” continued Burke. “Unfortunately, due to injuries he sustained to his foot, our journey to the mirror ball ends tonight. Ray, I wish you a safe and speedy recovery and look forward to seeing you do the squirrel dance again very soon. #TeamRAVENous.”
Lewis was seen rehearsing to dance the cha-cha in a video clip on Monday’s show to pay a tribute to Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. However, during the training, his old foot injury flared up.
He admitted that he had to deal with foot pain during every practice. Lewis also revealed that he had torn three tendons in his foot, which needed surgery. He said his doctor advised him to quit the competition.
The 44-year-old said, “This was probably one of the hardest decisions of my life. I’ve had some of the best experiences of my life on this show. I met an entirely new family and experienced what I always wanted to experience, what dancing on the stage with Dancing with the Stars felt like. It was absolutely incredible. I will never forget this.”
The news of Lewis opting out of the reality show came after he shared a cryptic post on Instagram about sacrifice.
He wrote, “Don’t get me wrong – I understand the grind – the effort and commitment it takes is unparalleled. But when you finally level up what else will be left? Did you cut off your friends and family or sacrifice your mental health? Make time for what matters. Take care of yourself. Mind, Body, and Spirit. #NoExcuses.” Lewis is the second contestant to quit the Dancing with the Stars season 28. Earlier this month, Christie Brinkley announced that she had to quit the show after fracturing her wrist and arm during a rehearsal. She was replaced by her 21-year-old daughter, Sailor Brinkley-Cook.
