Ray Lewis is leavingDancing with the Stars.
During the third week of the reality dance competition series, the NFL legend announced that he was dropping out due to a foot injury.
While training for his cha-cha with pro dancer Cheryl Burke, Lewis re-injured his foot.
“In a game in 2010, I tore a tendon in my foot. And now, all of this dancing, all of this on your toes, I’m reliving a problem that I thought I’d never have to live again,” he said in his video package. “I am having so much fun when it comes to the dancing part. But the part behind the scenes, it’s just been painful. It’s bothered me a lot.”
“I dealt with pain every practice,” said an emotional Lewis, 44. “I pushed through anything. But when he read the MRI to me today, I knew something was wrong.”
The doctor was then recorded telling Lewis, “You tore three tendons. It’s going to require surgery.”
The doctor added, “You keep dancing on it, it’s going to actually rupture.”
“His next words was: ‘You gotta let it go. You cannot do this.’ I gotta leave the competition,” a disappointed Lewis said. “This is probably one of the hardest decisions of my life. But right now, I gotta make sure that I don’t damage something enough to where I can’t walk.”
Eric McCandless via Getty
Reflecting on his short time onDWTS, Lewis said that he’s “had some of the best experiences of my life on this show. I’ve met an entirely new family and I have experienced what I’ve always wanted to experience: what dancing on the stage, whatDancing with the Starsfelt like.”
“It was absolutely incredible. I’ll never forget this,” he said.
Although the former pro athlete couldn’t compete because of his injury, a familiar face stepped in to dance the cha-cha with Burke: NFL star andDWTSseason 24 Mirrorball Trophy championRashad Jennings!
ABC/Craig Sjodin
Lewis, who wassaved from eliminationlast week, is the second celebrity contestant to withdraw fromseason 28due to an injury.
Ahead of the show’s premiere on Sept. 16, ABC announced thatChristie Brinkley‘s youngest daughterSailor would be taking her placeon the popular dancing competition after Christie fell and broke her arm during rehearsals days prior.
“Showbiz is all about getting a break, and Sailor and I both got one onDancing with the Starsthis season,” Christie said in a statement toGood Morning America, joking about her injury. “Sailor joined the cast when I got mine … ouch somebody stop me, it hurts to laugh!”
GMAtweeted out footage of Christie’s fall. In the clip, she appeared to trip over her partner’s foot during a turn, sending her tumbling to the ground.
BBC Studios and ABC said in a statement to PEOPLE that Christie “suffered injuries which required surgery to her wrist and arm.”
“We wish Christie a full and speedy recovery and look forward to seeing her in the audience, whenever possible, proudly supporting Sailor,” the statement continued.
Sailor later recounted the emotional moment her mom told her about the injury.
“Getting that call from my mom when I was still out in the Hamptons. She was sobbing, crying, she was so disappointed that she couldn’t do it anymore,” Sailor toldEntertainmentTonight.
“She wasn’t even crying because she was hurt. She was like, ‘I’m gonna let down Val [Chmerkovskiy] and I’m not gonna be able to keep going withDancing with the Stars.’ And I was like, ‘No mom,’ and I had to comfort her in that and be like, ‘But you had your experience just let that go, you know you had such a great time. No one is disappointed in you,’” said Sailor.
Dancing with the Starsairs Mondays (8 p.m. ET) on ABC.
source: people.com
