To speed up that process, Chark has been picking the brains of his new teammates. Fellow wide receiver Darnell Mooney has been notably helpful, as he is out with a shoulder injury at the moment. The two were seen chatting along the sideline multiples times during team periods.
“He always had a script, so just getting the plays from him,” Chark said. “I go home; I write them down. A lot of them are sticking. Sometimes, I can just look at the play and, as long as I know who’s the X and Z, I can kind of figure out the formation and what play is being ran.”
Chark was a second-round draft pick in 2018 to the Jacksonville Jaguars. He made the Pro Bowl in just his second season after totaling 73 receptions for 1,008 yards and eight touchdowns. When his rookie contract expired in 2022, the Jaguars let him go to free agency.
From there, Chark spent a season apiece with the Detroit Lions, Carolina Panthers and Chargers. Last year in Los Angeles, he totaled just four receptions for 31 yards and a touchdown. A hip injury shortened his season, just like an ankle injury did so in 2021 and 2022.
“We know the type of player he is,” Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot said. “He’s had some unfortunate injuries in his career, but he showed up in really good shape. He’s a really smart guy. He’s already picking things up really well.”
Chark expects limitations to be lifted this week, as the Falcons hold their fourth open practice Tuesday. If he has a solid training camp, there is a good chance Chark can make the 53-man roster. The Falcons have their starters in Mooney, Drake London and Ray-Ray McCloud III. However, Atlanta needs to cultivate depth in case an injury comes up again.
Since Mooney went down, KhaDarel Hodge has stepped in as a third starting wide receiver. He’s the only reserve with as much experience as the others, including Chark. Everyone else holds three or fewer years of professional play.
“It’s always good for younger guys to be around guys that have a few stripes,” Falcons wide receivers coach Ike Hilliard said. “There are always interesting conversations (to be had) about situational football – playing in different places, playing with different quarterbacks, playing against different DBs. We expect DJ to bring that perspective here and help our boys grow and help them with the journey.”
Chark’s journey isn’t over yet, either. The cleats are staying on. The body is free of injuries. The family is moving to Atlanta.
“Once I got here, everybody from the staff to all the coaches made me feel welcomed and wanted,” Chark said. “So, I felt like it was the right decision.”