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At 24 years old, most NFL wideouts are chasing their first major payday. Ja'Lynn Polk is calling it quits. The New Orleans Saints stunned the NFL on Sunday by placing the former second-round pick on the reserve/retired list.

Days before the retirement announcement, Kellen Moore revealed Polk had been away from the team for personal reasons, offering few details.

Ja'Lynn Polk #1 of the New England Patriots gets a first down during the first quarter of a preseason game against the Carolina Panthers at Gillette Stadium on Aug. 8, 2024, in Foxborough, Mass. (Getty Images)

Shortly after, Polk scrubbed his Instagram account clean and went dark. Less than three years after helping Washington play for a national championship, Polk is stepping away from the NFL.

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Polk's pro career never gained traction. He caught 12 passes for 87 yards and two touchdowns during a difficult rookie season in New England.

Aaron Rodgers of the New York Jets talks with Ja'Lynn Polk of the New England Patriots after the game at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., on Sept. 19, 2024. (Getty Images)

Ja'Lynn Polk of the New England Patriots looks on during the national anthem before an NFL game against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., on Sept. 19, 2024. (Getty Images)

Despite the disappointing debut, Polk insisted he never lost confidence, telling reporters before the 2025 season, "I don't even think about last year," while adding that he still believed he was "going to be great."

A shoulder injury then wiped out his entire 2025 season, prompting the Patriots to send him to New Orleans in a late-round pick swap while he was still on injured reserve.

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After spending nearly a full year rehabbing his shoulder, Polk walked away without playing a regular-season snap for the Saints.

Polk has not publicly explained his decision.

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The Saints retain his rights if he ever decides to return, but for now, a career that began with second-round expectations has ended after just two seasons.

Kayshon Boutte and Ja'Lynn Polk of the New England Patriots take the field before a game against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla., on Nov. 24, 2024. (Getty Images)

Send us your thoughts: alejandro.avila@outkick.com / Follow along on X: @alejandroaveela

Alejandro Avila is a longtime writer at OutKick, living in Southern California.ย 

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