Following the 2019 season, it looked like the Jacksonville Jaguars had hit it out of the ballpark when they drafted DJ Chark Jr. in 2018. After all, the former LSU Tiger was fresh off his first 1,000-yard campaign and seemed poised to be the mainstay of the Jags' offense for years to come. Unfortunately, injuries have hampered what was once a promising campaign, and he's now mulling retirement.
After a brief stint with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2024, Chark remains unsigned and would only consider joining a team if it makes sense, pointing out that he doesn't want his family to go through the hassle of having to relocate.
"It would definitely be more attractive in the sense of not having to move my family really far," Chark told Kyle Odegard of SportsCasting. "Go play on a team, come back. I'm aware enough to know that's not me. I couldn't do it. It would definitely be more beneficial to be closer, to be around family so we have help. With the kids being 4 and 2, it takes a village. We've been pretty much isolated and doing it on our own. Being back home and having family help has been tremendous for us."
Odegard says that Chark told him he would love to play for the Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans, or New Orleans Saints, "those located near his extended family.
A second-round pick in 2018, Chark was a non-factor as a rookie but turned the corner in his sophomore campaign, hauling in 73 catches for 1,008 yards with eight touchdowns. He was selected to the Pro Bowl that year.
Unfortunately, the Alexandria, Louisiana native wasn't able to build off of his promising 2019 and dealt with injuries in 2020 that limited him to 53 catches for 706 yards with five touchdowns. Although that's not a bad statline, it's fair to say that he came up short of expectations.
Expected to bounce back in 2021, Chark instead saw his season come to an abrupt end when he fractured his ankle against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 4. He signed a one-year deal with the Detroit Lions in 2022, but injuries once again held him back.
Chark then spent a season with the Carolina Panthers before landing with the Bolts last year. Since leaving the Jags, he's tallied 76 receptions for 1,212 yards with 11 touchdowns.
Related: Trevor Lawrence's biggest supporter makes encouraging takeJaguars fans will love
DJ Chark Jr. once looked like a No. 1 receiver for the Jaguars
Nobody would blame DJ Chark if he wants to step away from football after. After all, the thought of going through rehab year in and year out, knowing that even if he gives it his all, isn't particularly appealing. And that's the thing, injuries have robbed him of his skills, and expecting him to stay healthy after dealing with so many ailments the past few years is unrealistic.
If anything, Chark deserves praise for knowing that his NFL career is hanging by a thread. He surely doesn't want to sign with a team only to once again suffer an injury.
That said, nothing is set in stone, and Chark may decide to give the NFL one last try. If he doesn't and decides to call it quits, he'll be remembered as an intriguing talent that might've turned into a perennial Pro Bowler if injuries hadn't hindered him.