The New York Jets don't seem to be able to release any quarterbacks without fanfare.
Several news outlets are reporting that veteran David Garrard has told two Jets teammates he intends to retire.
According to USA Today, Garrard declined comment to NFL.com, which first reported the story, but told SiriusXM host Adam Schein via text, "Having to call it quits. My knee is not holding up. Continuing to swell after practices. Limiting what I can do."
The Jets, who last month released lightning-rod quarterback Tim Tebow, still have four signal-callers on their roster, but were counting on the 35-year-old Garrard to provide leadership and stability to the quarterback position and the offense, ProFootballTalk.com reported.
A Jets spokesman on Wednesday told USA Today that Garrard was still on the roster and hasn't been released.
Garrard signed with the Miami Dolphins in 2012 and was expected to be the starter for their first preseason game until he experienced swelling in his knee that forced him to undergo arthroscopic surgery, the Miami Herald reported.
The Dolphins cut Garrard before the regular-season opener.
The news is a big blow to the Jets, ProFootballTalk,com said, because of the circumstances under which the franchise planned to use Garrard.
"If Garrard is gone, that would be a major problem for the Jets, who were hoping he'd be able to mentor rookie Geno Smith and perhaps open the season as the starter if Smith isn't ready," ProFootballTalk.com reported. "The Jets also have Mark Sanchez and Greg McElroy on the roster, but there are serious doubts about whether the team has any long-term plans for either of them."
Matt Simms, son of former NFL quarterback Phil, also is on the Jets roster.
Garrard hasn't played an NFL game the past two seasons because of back and knee injuries, but ESPN.com reported that he passed a physical with the Jets in the spring.
ESPN also noted that new Jets offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg said the team's starting quarterback job is open in a conference call with season-ticket holders earlier Wednesday.
"This will be a bona fide quarterback competition. Period," ESPN reported Mornhinweg as saying. "I'm hoping that somebody will rise to the top quicker rather than later."
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