Eric Decker, a wide receiver who recently joined the New England Patriots, announced his retirement via Instagram. Despite his short stint with the team, he decided to step away from the game.
Throughout his NFL career, the 31-year-old Decker faced challenges with the Patriots and seemed unlikely to secure a spot on the team’s roster. He saw playing time during the first half of a preseason game against the Carolina Panthers alongside quarterback Tom Brady.
Decker was signed by the Patriots following the release of Jordan Matthews due to uncertainty during training camp. The team also parted ways with Kenny Britt and Malcolm Mitchell earlier in camp.
The Patriots’ receiving corps is led by Julian Edelman, followed by Chris Hogan, Phillip Dorsett, and Cordarrelle Patterson. Edelman will miss the first four games of the season due to a league suspension related to performance-enhancing substances.
With offseason departures of Brandin Cooks and Danny Amendola, the Patriots had to make significant changes at the wide receiver position. Decker struggled with dropped passes during training camp and worked on his hands using a tennis ball drill.
During his eight-season career, Decker played for the New York Jets, Denver Broncos, and Tennessee Titans, amassing 439 receptions, 5816 yards, and 53 touchdowns.
The trend of veteran wide receivers retiring shortly after joining the Patriots has been seen in recent years, with examples like Reggie Wayne leaving the team after a brief period in 2015.
