As it turns out, David Garrard is not ready for retirement just yet.
The veteran quarterback, who retired in May due to chronic knee problems, decided Thursday to return to the New York Jets. He underwent a physical and was removed from the reserve-retired list.
Garrard was placed on the team’s exempt list, meaning the Jets now have 10 days to decide if they want to add him to the 53-man roster. Until then, he is allowed to practice and attend all team activities but will not be eligible to play in the next two games.
“I was able to take the whole summer off and let my body heal. I started training a couple of months ago and my knee feels great,” Garrard said Wednesday, according to the team’s website. “I’m sitting at home, watching games thinking, ‘Why am I at home? Why am I doing this to myself?’ I didn’t want to have any regrets one day.
“I reached out to [Jets general manager John] Idzik. He has given me another chance, so it’s truly a blessing.”
Garrard, who signed a one-year, $1.1 million contract in March, has never played a down for the Jets. He spent the first nine years of his career in Jacksonville, leading the Jaguars to a playoff win during the 2007 season and earning a Pro Bowl nod in 2009.
He lost his starting job to Blaine Gabbert prior to the the 2011 season and has not played an NFL snap since.
