Patriots WR Eric Decker Announces Retirement

An already extremely thin wide receiver corps for the New England Patriots got a little thinner Sunday afternoon, as veteran receiver Eric Decker announced his retirement. 

Decker, who posted a heartfelt message announcing his decision to call it quits on his Instagram page, signed on to join the Pats just a few weeks back at the start of training camp.

The veteran receiver, who had spent eight seasons in the league between Denver, the New York jets and Tennessee, had struggled to catch the ball since joining the Pats.

Despite New England's dearth of options among the receivers on the roster, there was no guarantee that the 31-year-old was going to make the initial 53-man roster, due to his struggles in the early going.

Decker didn't play until the second half of Friday's third preseason game and caught just two of seven balls thrown his way for 12 yards over the two preseason games he played in.

Decker's departure will likely open the door for youngsters Riley McCarron, Braxton Berrios and Devin Lucien to battle it out for a spot on the team's initial 53-man roster.