Wide receiver Jordy Nelson is retiring from the NFL, according to James Jones, his former Green Bay Packers teammate.
The move comes as a mild surprise considering reported interest from the Kansas City Chiefs, Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots.
Jones posted the news to Twitter on Wednesday morning.
“After more than a decade in the NFL, my brother, former #Packers & #Raiders WR @JordyRNelson is calling it a career. He’s stepping away from the game with more than 8,500 yards…72+ TD’s and as a SB Champion! I’m proud of him and happy for him and his family! #Ese’ #Respect.”
Nelson signed a two-year, $14.2 million deal last spring with Oakland. The Raiders already had paid him a $3.6 million roster bonus for 2019 when they released him on March 14.
Nelson, who turns 34 in May, has been released in consecutive offseasons after the Packers let him go last spring. He had 63 catches for 739 yards and three touchdowns in 15 games (14 starts) last season.
Nelson had 97 grabs for 1,257 yards and a league-high 14 scores in 2016 while coming off a torn ACL, but he posted just 53 catches for 482 yards in 2017, marking a career-low 9.1 yards per catch. In 10 career seasons, he has 613 catches for 8,587 yards and 72 touchdowns.
