The New Orleans Saints have placed wide receiver Ja'Lynn Polk on the reserve/retired list, ending his NFL career at just 24 years old. The move stunned observers given Polk was a second-round draft pick still early in his career, a stage at which most players are working towards a first big contract rather than stepping away from the game.

The retirement came days after Saints head coach Kellen Moore revealed that Polk had been away from the team, with no clear explanation given at the time. The abrupt nature of his exit, following an unexplained absence, has left his departure shrouded in mystery, with the club offering no further detail on the reasons behind the decision.