Cardinals OLB Abraham leaves team, considers retirement

FILE - In this Nov. 10, 2013, file photo, Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker John Abraham (55) salutes the crowd after sacking Houston Texans quarterback Case Keenum during the second half of an NFL football game in Glendale, Ariz. Abraham has left the Cardinals and is considering retiring from the game. The 36-year-old Abraham sustained a concussion in Monday night's, Sept. 8, 2014, 18-17 season-opening victory over San Diego. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri, File) (The Associated Press)

FILE - In this Dec. 8, 2013, file photo, Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker John Abraham (55) sacks St. Louis Rams quarterback Kellen Clemens (10) in the end zone for a safety during the second half of an NFL football game in Glendale, Ariz. Abraham has left the Cardinals and is considering retiring from the game. The 36-year-old Abraham sustained a concussion in Monday night's, Sept. 8, 2014, 18-17 season-opening victory over San Diego. (AP Photo/Matt York, File) (The Associated Press)

TEMPE, Ariz. – Outside linebacker Jonathan Abraham has left the Arizona Cardinals and is considering retiring from the game.

The Cardinals confirmed that Abraham had left and announced they had been granted a roster exemption, using it to re-sign linebacker Marcus Benard.

The 36-year-old Abraham sustained a concussion in Monday night's 18-17 season-opening victory over San Diego.

Abraham, in his 16th NFL season, ranks ninth on the NFL's career sacks list with 133½.

He missed nearly all of training camp to, as he later confirmed, undergo rehabilitation treatment for an alcohol problem.