Corey Davis. Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Jets react to shocking Corey Davis news

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 8/24/23

Individuals associated with the New York Jets reacted Wednesday to wide receiver Corey Davis stepping away from football, perhaps for good.

"It was a pleasure to coach a player like Corey Davis," Jets head coach Robert Saleh said, as shared by Eric Allen of the team's website. "He is a true competitor on the field and was a tremendously positive influence in the locker room. We are grateful to Corey for all the hard work and dedication he put into this team, and we wish him all the best in the future."

"My heart goes out to him and his family"

Robert Saleh on Corey Davis' decision to retire from the NFL: pic.twitter.com/bXgW2Rma5g
— Jets Videos (@snyjets) August 23, 2023

Pro Football Talk's Josh Alper noted that Davis never used any version of the word "retire" in his Instagram announcement. Instead, the 28-year-old wrote that "stepping away from the game is the best path for me at this time."

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Corey Davis (@coreydavis84)

Davis first entered the league when the Tennessee Titans made him the fifth overall pick of the 2017 NFL Draft. He played for Tennessee from 2017 through the 2020 season before he signed what ESPN's Adam Schefter reported to be a three-year, $37.5M deal that included $27M guaranteed with the Jets in March 2021.

Across two seasons with Gang Green, Davis accumulated 66 receptions for 1,028 yards and six touchdowns in 22 regular-season games. It was thought this past spring that Davis could be part of a trade package that helped the Jets land quarterback Aaron Rodgers from the Green Bay Packers, and ESPN's Rich Cimini suggested as recently as this past Sunday that Davis had become surplus to requirements and could be a salary-cap casualty by the end of the month.

"Corey Davis was a true professional on and off the field," Jets general manager Joe Douglas added. "He was a great example to our young players of how to come to work every day and put in a complete and consistent day of work. We were fortunate to have him here. We wish him the best moving forward."

Billy Riccette of Jets Wire/USA Today mentioned how Saleh told reporters earlier on Wednesday that Davis was still out on personal leave that had caused him to be away from the club since Aug. 16. The exact nature of that leave was unclear to outsiders before Wednesday's update.