A free agent wide receiver retires
A free agent wide receiver linked to the Green Bay Packers during the 2022 season will not be available to sign this spring. The Packers, who will need to look at adding to the wide receiver positions this offseason, could have used the services of an All-Pro wide receiver.
According to a statement by the Arizona Cardinals, free agent wide receiver A.J. Green will retire after 11 seasons in the NFL. The Cardinals posted Green’s statement on their Twitter account:
“I’ve never been a man of many words, so I’ll keep this short.
Thank you. Thank you to all who have supported, encouraged, and inspired me throughout my career. Special thank you to the University of Georgia, Cincinnati Bengals, and Arizona Cardinals for the opportunity to pursue my dreams. I’ve stayed true to the game and it owes me nothing. Be blessed.. Love y’all! The next chapter begins…”
Green was a popular trade name this fall
The former first-round pick played with the Cincinnati Bengals from 2011-2020. Unfortunately for Green, they left the Bengals when they started to have major success with quarterback Joe Burrow. He finished his career with the Arizona Cardinals the previous two seasons signing one-year deals in successive seasons.
The Cardinals were a playoff team last season. However, the Cardinals were a mess of a team in the early season after coming into the 2022 campaign with high expectations following quarterback Kyler Murray’s extension. Their slow start had many analysts thinking Green was a trade piece.
Because the Packers needed a wide receiver in the early season due to injury, reports came out they were considered a landing spot for Green. Nothing came of the rumors, and after Green’s retirement, it seems nearly impossible he’ll ever put on a green and gold uniform.
However, we’ll see what next fall brings. Since Green will technically be a free agent wide receiver for next season, he could join the Packers for a playoff run if he wants to come back to chase an NFL championship, as many older players choose to do.
