Former New York Jets Kris Jenkins retires

Nose tackle Kris Jenkins, hampered by knee injuries for most of his two years with the New York Jets announced his retirement Wednesday from the NFL.

Posting on his facebook page, Jenkins, 31, wrote that “it’s time for the torch to be passed to the younger players. I am going to hang up the cleats! The mind is always willing to play, but my body deserves the rest.”

Playing for the Carolina Panthers and then the Jets during his 10 year career, the 6-foot-5, 360-pounder underwent reconstructive surgery twice in less than 12 months with the Jets to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

The four time pro bowler missed 25 of 32 games over the last two seasons.

When healthy, Jenkins was a beast on the inside, causing havoc for opposing teams running games.  “He’s a big, powerful man that’s athletic,” Jets coach Rex Ryan once said of Jenkins. “There aren’t too many people walking the face of the earth that are like that.”

The Jets traded for Jenkins before the 2008 season, sending third- and fifth-round picks to the Panthers. For his career, Jenkins played in 108 games and recorded 24 sacks.