Jenkins spent seven seasons with the Carolina Panthers and three with the Jets but was released in February after missing 25 of 32 games over two seasons because of knee injuries.

“It is time for the torch to be passed to the younger players. I am going to hang up the cleats!” Jenkins, 31, said on his Facebook page. “The mind is always willing to play but my body deserves the rest.”

Jenkins, taken in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft by Carolina, recorded 24 sacks and 220 tackles in 108 games.