The Detroit Lions opened their annual training camp last week, and it won't be long until the action is kicked up a notch. The reigning NFC North Champions will open the 2025 NFL preseason against the Los Angeles Chargers in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game on July 31, giving head coach Dan Campbell just under two weeks to prepare his players.
As the Lions and the rest of the NFL teams prepare for the increased action, some players are still looking to find jobs before training camp is over. One of those players is a former Detroit wideout, who seems to be trending towards retirement, judging by his latest words.
Veteran free-agent WR DJ Chark weighing all options heading into eighth NFL seasonhttps://t.co/E4FTihFeaT pic.twitter.com/33oqXpMz7s
— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) July 20, 2025
Former Lions WR DJ Chark Sounds Ready for Retirement Amid Training Camp
Former Lions wide receiver DJ Chark is one of the many unsigned veteran wideouts still looking for a new home. The chances of landing that opportunity decreases with each passing day in the offseason, though, and it sounds like Chark is already accepting that a new contract might not be in his future.
"It depends," Chark told Sports Casting's Kyle Odegard about his desire to continue playing in the NFL. "It will have to be something that makes sense, from a family perspective and also from an Xs and Os perspective... I’ll always love the game, but at this point, putting myself and my family in a great position is what’s ideal for me."
Even though he didn't outright say it, it's clear that Chark is open to the idea of retiring. Prioritizing his and his family's happiness means he won't sign with a team just for the sake of putting pen to paper, and it also helps that he's made over $23.2 million in career earnings, according to Spotrac.
Lions fans will remember Chark from his first (and only) season in the Motor City. The former LSU Tiger signed a one-year deal with Detroit for the 2022 campaign and went on to convert 30 catches into 502 receiving yards and three touchdowns in 11 games.
He left town to join the Carolina Panthers in the following offseason and posted a 35-525-5 stat line with them before experiencing an injury-riddled 2024 season with the Los Angeles Chargers.
After tallying only four catches for 31 yards and a touchdown in seven outings with the Chargers, it isn't hard to figure out why Chark is still unemployed. The 7.8 yards per catch he averaged last season was a new career low, further signalling that his best days are in the rearview mirror. Anything other than a training camp tryout at this stage of the offseason is likely off the table.
If this is the end of the line for Chark, he can retire knowing he had a productive NFL career for a former second-round pick. The former Lions WR racked up 216 receptions, 3,100 yards, and 24 TDs in 76 games, as well as his career earnings, giving him and his family plenty to be proud of.