Oct 12, 2018; Watford, United Kingdom; Oakland Raiders receiver Amari Cooper during press conference at the Hilton London Wembley. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Former Pro Bowler shocks Raiders by reversing course and puts the team in a tough spot as the season starts

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Adam Holt | Last updated Sep 4, 2025 4:35 PM ET

The NFL offseason never sleeps. Even just hours before Week 1 kicks off with the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles, the Las Vegas Raiders received some tough news regarding a recent move they made to bolster their offensive depth.

A reunion won't come to fruition to the degree that anyone was hoping for in Las Vegas. Instead, a veteran playmaker is hanging up his cleats.

Amari Cooper chooses to retire rather than play for Raiders

According to Ian Rapoport, Raiders wide receiver Amari Cooper plans to retire. He no longer has the desire to play after recently rejoining the team that he started his NFL career with. There was hope he could rekindle some success in the latter part of his career, but that simply was not the outcome.

Comeback no more: #Raiders WR Amari Cooper has informed the team that he no longer has the desire to play and intends to retire, per The Insiders.

Cooper had signed at the end of camp in a hopeful reunion with the team that drafted. Now, he’s headed home from Las Vegas. pic.twitter.com/jEZHPHBPBq
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 4, 2025

For Las Vegas, this decision leaves the team with just four wide receivers on the roster. Rookies Don'te Thornton and Jack Bech will play a role in their first season in the pros. Jakobi Meyers, who recently requested a trade, still remains as well. Tre Tucker is the other WR option as of now. I would expect the Raiders to elevate at least one wideout from their practice squad for Week 1.

Adding a veteran WR option through free agency could make sense for Vegas, too.

Regardless, the loss of Cooper was a surprising one for plenty of fans. That being said, his play has trailed off in recent seasons, so his production was most likely going to be limited for the Raiders, no matter what.

During his NFL career, Cooper was selected to five Pro Bowls. He totaled 711 receptions, 10,033 receiving yards, and 64 receiving touchdowns.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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