Amari Cooper retires after brief Raiders stint, leaves WR depth thin

Amari Cooper abruptly ended a brief return to the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday, informing the team he will retire less than two weeks after signing a one-year contract, league and team sources said. The move, announced with three days to go before the Raiders open the regular season, leaves Las Vegas thin at wide receiver and scrambling to fill immediate depth chart needs.

Cooper rejoined the franchise that drafted him on August 25 on a short-term deal that reports variously put between roughly $3.5 million and as much as $6 million with incentives. The 31-year-old five-time Pro Bowl receiver had said publicly he wanted a chance to prove he remained healthy and productive after a subdued 2024 split between the Cleveland Browns and Buffalo Bills. He finished last season with 44 receptions for 547 yards and four touchdowns, and had a career-high 1,250 yards in 2023.

Raiders head coach Pete Carroll had spoken positively about adding Cooper, saying the veteran could help bring experience to a young receiving corps and balance expectations for rookies such as Jack Bech and Donte Thornton. Carroll told reporters the signing was intended to "help our young guys" and to provide...