RENTON — Through an end that he and just about everyone else around the Seahawks have seen coming for months, Cliff Avril showed why he’s one of Seattle’s most popular players.

Thank you 12s for making the last 5 years in Seattle so amazing! Your cheers on Sundays are unmatched, and you guys are by far the best fans in the NFL! Most importantly, I appreciate and value the lifelong friendships I’ve made. You all have supported my family, my foundation (the Cliff Avril Family Foundation), and I throughout my entire tenure, and I could not have asked for more! THANK YOU to the entire Seahawk organization as well as my teammates. You all made me a Pro Bowler and a Super Bowl Champ! I am forever grateful. THANK YOU! #HAITIANCREATION

A post shared by Cliff Avril (@cliffavril) on May 4, 2018 at 12:15pm PDT

The Seahawks on Friday released the 32-year-old Pro Bowl defensive end seven months after his serious neck injury and resulting surgery that has now ended his career in Seattle, if not the NFL. Avril got kicked under the chin by the foot of Jacoby Brissett while he was diving and chasing the Indianapolis Colts quarterback from behind in a game Oct. 1. The blow snapped Avril’s head back and caused nerve damage that caused him to lose feeling in his extremities.

Coach Pete Carroll said Jan. 2 that Avril and safety Kam Chancellor “are going to have a hard time playing again.” Chancellor also had a season-ending neck injury in 2017.

Avril is hugely popular inside the Seahawks’ locker room and around Seattle for being an all-around good guy. Teammates such as fellow ends Frank Clark and since-departed Michael Bennett have been scared by Avril’s injury and situation.

Releasing Avril with the failed-physical designation entitles him, per the NFL collective baragining agreement, to a payment of $1.15 million for this year because of a debiliating injury. That counts against Seattle’s salary cap. That plus dead money bring the Seahawks’ savings against the 2018 salary cap for releasing Avril to $5,975,000.