After considering retirement, former Professional Bowl receiver DJ Chark is signing with the Atlanta Falcons, according to NFL Media.
Chark, who will flip 29 in September, had lately acknowledged that retirement was an possibility this offseason, citing the challenges related to presumably uprooting his household for a fifth consecutive yr.
“It must be one thing that is smart, from a household perspective and in addition from an Xs and Os perspective,” Chark recently told SportsCasting’s Kyle Odegard. “Getting up and going to any group only for the thrill — I am going to all the time love the sport, however at this level, placing myself and my household in an ideal place is what’s best for me.”
A Louisiana native, Chark stated that the Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans or New Orleans Saints can be best groups for him from a geographical standpoint. It seems, nevertheless, that Atlanta can be a suitable location for Chark, who will be a part of a Falcons offense that may be on the precipice of becoming one of the NFL’s best.
The 61st general decide within the 2018 NFL Draft, Chark was named to the Professional Bowl after eclipsing 1,000 receiving yards in 2019 as a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars. However he by no means reached that stage of success once more throughout his NFL profession.
Chark had a strong 2020 marketing campaign, however a number of accidents restricted him to simply 4 video games in 2021. He signed with the Detroit Lions in 2022, and regardless of placing up first rate numbers (30 receptions for 502 yards and three touchdowns), he continued to take care of accidents and was not re-signed throughout the next offseason. Chark then signed a one-year take care of the Carolina Panthers, had been he additionally was not re-signed after one yr regardless of catching 5 touchdowns and averaging 15 yards per catch.
Accidents continued to plague Chark throughout his most up-to-date NFL cease, which was final season as a member of the Los Angeles Chargers. Hampered by an injured hip, Chark did not make his season debut till Nov. 2. Whereas the season was largely a bust, Chark did catch a landing move through the group’s Week 18 win over the Las Vegas Raiders.
Whereas he’s now not a No. 1 possibility, the 6-foot-3, 200-pound Chark can nonetheless present worth to an NFL as a crimson zone risk whereas offering high quality depth. In Atlanta, he’ll get an opportunity so as to add to what’s already a formidable group of talent gamers that features quarterback Michael Penix Jr., operating again Bijan Robinson, tight finish Kyle Pitts and wideout Drake London.