Chris "Beanie" Wells had been absent from his radio show in Columbus, Ohio, for some time.
The former Ohio State and NFL running back revealed the reason for his absence Monday. Wells said in his return to "The Tim and Beanie Show" that he had been experiencing headaches and memory loss. Brain scans revealed what he called a "traumatic brain injury."
"I have some plaque separation," the 29-year-old Wells told his co-host Tim Hall. "And when you have that plaque separation, it shows that you experienced some sort of traumatic brain injury. Obviously that traumatic injury for me would come from playing football. Not only that. They had some cells tacked on to that separated plaque that I needed to get under control.
"I'm still not out of the woods yet, but it's coming. I'm hopeful."
Wells was a first-round pick of the Cardinals in the 2009 NFL Draft. His rookie season was derailed by an ankle injury. Turf-toe issues cost him half of the 2012 season and he stepped away from football following a torn Achilles in 2013. Wells finished his four-year NFL career with 2,471 yards and 24 touchdowns, rushing for 1,047 yards and 10 scores in 2011.
Wells said he's usually been quick-witted, but has struggled to find the right words during conversations.
"When you start to feel a little bit indifferent upstairs, it scares you," Wells said. "So you want to go and get that checked out, and it was going on for about six or seven months. I'm just glad at this point in time I have an answer for it, and I'm addressing getting it squared away."