It’s official.
A day after the reports first emerged, Amari Cooper’s retirement is really happening. The Las Vegas Raiders placed the star wide receiver on the reserve/retired list on Friday, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
In corresponding roster moves, the Raiders signed Justin Shorter to the active roster from the practice squad, and they signed Phillip Dorsett to the practice squad.
It’s a surprise end for Cooper, who signed with the Raiders in late August for what looked like a reunion with the team that once drafted him in the first round.
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Cooper retired rather than play for the Raiders, who he signed with on Aug. 26.
“Cooper had signed at the end of camp in a hopeful reunion with the team that drafted,” Ian Rapoport wrote on X. “Now, he’s headed home from Las Vegas.”
Earlier this week, Cooper was only given a backup spot on the Raiders’ unofficial depth chart for Week 1, which may have signaled his chances of contributing this season.
Cooper was a five-time Pro Bowler.
He came into the league as the No. 4 overall pick in 2015 out of Alabama, and he was an immediate shining light in Oakland.
Cooper played four seasons for the Raiders before being traded to the Cowboys, who had him for parts of four seasons, too.
After that, Cooper spent three seasons in Cleveland (including two 1,000-yard campaigns there, too).
He was traded midway through the 2024 season to the Bills.
Cooper played eight games for Buffalo and caught 20 passes for 297 yards and two TDs.
He finishes his career with 711 catches for 10,033 yards and 64 touchdowns.
Cooper’s Raiders stats ended with 225 catches, 3,183 yards and 19 touchdowns.
Vegas will enter Week 1 with a WR depth chart that includes Jakobi Meyers, Tre Tucker, Dont’e Thornton and Jack Bech.
And the 31-year old Cooper will, maybe, watch from afar.
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