DJ Chark: Everything you need to know

Chark announced his retirement from the NFL after seven seasons Friday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. A second-round pick by the Jaguars in 2018, Chark had the best season of his career in 2019, catching 73 of 118 targets for 1,008 yards and eight touchdowns. All were career highs for Chark, who was a Pro Bowl selection that season. After four seasons with the Jaguars, Chark bounced around the NFL the following four years, spending time with the Lions, Panthers, Chargers and Falcons. Chark failed to make the Atlanta roster out of training camp last summer and never latched on elsewhere. He finishes his career with 216 catches for 3,100 yards and 24 touchdowns.

The Falcons released Chark on Monday, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports. Chark signed with the Falcons at the start of training camp, but he's shown very little across 30 offensive snaps this preseason, securing just one of three targets for 11 yards. Chark turns 29 years old next month, and his career appears to be running on fumes after producing a 4-31-1 receiving line across seven regular-season games for the Chargers in 2024 before spending much of the offseason as a free agent.

Chark caught one of three passes for 11 yards during Friday's 23-20 preseason loss to the Titans. After not catching a pass across 10 offensive snaps in Atlanta's preseason opener, Chark delivered another quiet performance in Week 2. Not only is the veteran not part of the expected roster lock group who've spent the first two exhibitions in street clothes, but he's also been outperformed by practice-squad guys like Chris Blair and Dylan Drummond. Despite plenty of experience and an injury to Darnell Mooney (shoulder), Chark is currently on the outskirts of the Falcons' initial 53-man roster, per Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site.