Saints make shocking Ja'Lynn Polk retirement move after former second-round pick disappears

At 24 years old, astir NFL wideouts are chasing their archetypal large payday. Ja'Lynn Polk is calling it quits. The New Orleans Saints stunned the NFL connected Sunday by placing the erstwhile second-round prime connected the reserve/retired list.

Days earlier the status announcement, Kellen Moore revealed Polk had been distant from the squad for idiosyncratic reasons, offering fewer details.

Ja'Lynn Polk #1 of the New England Patriots gets a archetypal down during the archetypal 4th of a preseason crippled against the Carolina Panthers astatine Gillette Stadium connected Aug. 8, 2024, successful Foxborough, Mass. (Getty Images)

Shortly after, Polk scrubbed his Instagram relationship cleanable and went dark. Less than 3 years aft helping Washington play for a nationalist championship, Polk is stepping distant from the NFL.

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Polk's pro vocation ne'er gained traction. He caught 12 passes for 87 yards and 2 touchdowns during a hard rookie play successful New England.

Aaron Rodgers of the New York Jets talks with Ja'Lynn Polk of the New England Patriots aft the crippled astatine MetLife Stadium successful East Rutherford, N.J., connected Sept. 19, 2024. (Getty Images)

Ja'Lynn Polk of the New England Patriots looks connected during the nationalist anthem earlier an NFL crippled against the New York Jets astatine MetLife Stadium successful East Rutherford, N.J., connected Sept. 19, 2024. (Getty Images)

Despite the disappointing debut, Polk insisted helium ne'er mislaid confidence, telling reporters earlier the 2025 season, "I don't adjacent deliberation astir past year," portion adding that helium inactive believed helium was "going to beryllium great."

A enarthrosis wounded past wiped retired his full 2025 season, prompting the Patriots to nonstop him to New Orleans successful a late-round prime swap portion helium was inactive connected injured reserve.

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After spending astir a afloat twelvemonth rehabbing his shoulder, Polk walked distant without playing a regular-season drawback for the Saints.

Polk has not publically explained his decision.

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The Saints clasp his rights if helium ever decides to return, but for now, a vocation that began with second-round expectations has ended aft conscionable 2 seasons.

Kayshon Boutte and Ja'Lynn Polk of the New England Patriots instrumentality the tract earlier a crippled against the Miami Dolphins astatine Hard Rock Stadium successful Miami Gardens, Fla., connected Nov. 24, 2024. (Getty Images)

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