While DJ Chark seriously considered retirement this offseason, the 28-year-old former Pro Bowl receiver wanted to stay in shape. Thanks to a little help from a friend in Atlanta, Chark is now back on a roster and ready to contribute for the Falcons.
Chark Considered Retirement Before Working out With Falcons Backup QB Easton Stick
This morning, Falcons Digital Team Reporter Terrin Waack detailed Chark’s decision to head to Atlanta. While he seriously considered retirement, he stayed active by working out with Falcons backup quarterback Easton Stick.
“Running routes is just therapy for me,” Chark told Waack. “He needed work, so I would just go with him and run the routes that he was working on here.”
Stick reportedly vouched for Chark after a few training sessions together. Waack wrote that he “returned to Atlanta singing Chark’s praise to the front office.”
Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot echoed those praises. He called Chark “a really smart guy” who’s “already picking things up really well,” according to Waack. While he may have considered retirement this offseason, Chark looks like a player who is excited for another shot.
Chark burst onto the scene during his second season in 2019, pulling in 73 catches for 1,008 yards and eight touchdowns. He earned a Pro Bowl nod that year, but has struggled to find his footing since then.
Over the past four seasons, Chark has played with four different teams, but has appeared in just 37 total games. He has recorded just 76 catches for 1,212 yards and 11 touchdowns in total.
So, the Falcons will be banking on a return to form for the seven-year veteran. Otherwise, Chark may be staring down the barrel of retirement once again this offseason.
Falcons Looking for Potential Mooney Replacement for Training Camp
The Falcons receiver room just missed out on a top-10 ranking last month. But, that was before Darnell Mooney suffered a shoulder injury on day one of training camp.
Thankfully, the Falcons had already been in talks with DJ Chark this offseason, postponing his retirement for at least a little longer. Atlanta’s assistant general manager Kyle Smith told Charles Odum of The Associated Press that Chark’s workout “was already set up” before Mooney’s injury.
According to Odum, Smith called the injury “part of the deal,” but stressed that the front office is “always ready to find solutions and add to the roster.” That even includes bringing in players considering retirement, like Chark.
There haven’t been many details released regarding Mooney’s status. But, Falcons Digital Team Reporter Terrin Waack originally reported on Friday that the team announced that he “will miss a few weeks.”
Head coach Raheem Morris addressed the media this morning. Unsurprisingly, the first question dealt with Mooney’s status. Morris didn’t have many specifics, though.
When asked if the Falcons expected Mooney to be ready for Week 1, Morris told reporters that they’re “going with a few weeks right now.” But, they would “figure it out” after that.
Now that Chark is in the picture, the Falcons have another receiving threat ready to contribute during training camp. If Mooney misses significant time, Chark’s decision to postpone retirement ensures that Michael Penix Jr. has another weapon at his disposal.
