Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson said in a statement that he is evaluating his options, and he may not return for a tenth NFL season.
The 30-year-old has dealt with numerous injuries and wear and tear, and it’s beginning to take its toll. Now, he confirmed on Tuesday that he is contemplating his future.
“Like many players at this stage of their career, I am currently evaluating options for my future,” Johnson said in a statement, via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. “I would expect to have a decision regarding this matter in the not-too-distant future.”
97.1 WXYT host and Detroit columnist Terry Foster had written earlier on Tuesday that Johnson has at least given thought to walking away, while a former teammate anonymously told Birkett that Johnson has asked what retirement is like.
“There has been some conversations about it, not asking me how it is,” the ex-teammate said. “But I think the guy’s beat up. I think he’s been through enough. And I think it’s just his time. He’s made the money, got the records, but whatever. I don’t know for sure if he’s going to do it. I don’t know if he’s going to get that itch to keep going. I really don’t know.”
There has been thought that the Lions would cut Johnson for cap reasons after the season, though Megatron has said he’d like to finish his career in Detroit. Of course, longtime Lions fans know this feeling: Barry Sanders walked away abruptly at the age of 31 in 1999.
