Ballard has announced his retirement from the NFL, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.

A knee injury that he sustained in Super Bowl XLVI is evidently still impacting Ballard, so he'll hang up his cleats, which leaves the Cards' tight end duties in the hands of John Carlson, Rob Housler, Troy Niklas and Darren Fells.

Ballard missed Tuesday's practice due to a sore knee but is expected to return Wednesday, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.

After he was signed in the middle of last season, Ballard proceeded to gather in seven catches (on nine targets) for 75 yards and two touchdowns. With an entire offseason to evaluate the roster, coach Bruce Arians has apparently warmed up to Ballard, listing him as one of the Cardinals' two starting tight ends on the first depth chart of training camp. As long as the injury doesn't slow him down as the preseason rolls along, Ballard could pose a viable tight end threat once the season kicks off.

Cardinals re-sign TE Jake Ballard to one-year contract.

The Cardinals failed to tender Ballard earlier this offseason. Ballard caught seven passes for 75 yards and two scores after signing with the Cardinals in November.

The Cardinals failed to tender offers to restricted free agents TE Jake Ballard, RB Alfonso Smith, OLB Marcus Benard, and DE Ronald Talley, making them unrestricted free agents.

Ballard signed with the Cardinals in November and caught seven passes for 75 yards and two scores. Benard registered 2.5 sacks in limited snaps. He's always flashed some pass rush potential. Talley and Smith are special teamers.

The Arizona Republic expects the Cardinals to tender an offer to restricted free-agent TE Jake Ballard this offseason.

Ballard missed the first half of the season while recovering from knee surgery and was signed by the Cardinals in Week 9. He appeared in eight games (three starts), finishing with seven catches for 75 yards and two touchdowns. With Jim Dray an impending free agent, Ballard will likely be brought back as a blocking tight end behind Rob Housler.

Cardinals TE Jake Ballard caught three balls for 13 yards and a touchdown in Arizona's Week 15 win over Tennessee.

The Cardinals have used Ballard as a blocking tight end because he's big enough to take on defensive ends and outside linebackers. He secured a six-yard touchdown in the second half from Carson Palmer, giving Arizona a 20-17 lead. It was Ballard's first TD since his final season with the Giants two years back. Ballard played a bigger role in the passing game this particular week because Rob Housler (groin) was inactive. Ballard won't be a fantasy option at Seattle in fantasy title week.

Cardinals agreed to terms with TE Jake Ballard on a one-year contract.

The Cards likely hope Ballard will upgrade on Jim Dray as a blocker.

Free agent TE Jake Ballard will work out for the Chiefs on Tuesday.

Ballard reportedly wants to sign with a team this week. He'll begin to work out for teams this week after he denied requests earlier this season in order to get his surgically-repaired knee back to 100 percent.

Free agent TE Jake Ballard wants to sign with a team this week.

Ballard has had some chances for workouts over the last month, but has reportedly resisted because he wanted to get his troublesome knee to 100 percent. He was a shell of his 2011 form at Patriots camp in August.

The Ravens will work out free agent TE Jake Ballard on Monday.

Ballard was among the Patriots' final cuts. Baltimore has to be displeased with its current tight ends after Ed Dickson and Dallas Clark's drop- and error-filled NFL opener. Ballard, 25, is primarily a blocker on the line.

Patriots waived TE Jake Ballard.

The writing was on the wall for Ballard when Lions defensive linemen were rag-dolling him in the Pats' third preseason game. 25 years old with bad knees, Ballard may generate light interest on waivers, but is unlikely to ever be a fantasy asset again. He's a big, plodding in-line tight end who looks maxed out as a player. The Patriots' release of Ballard likely means Rob Gronkowski (back) will avoid reserve/PUP to open the season.

The Patriots are expected to open the season with Jake Ballard in Rob Gronkowski's old in-line tight end role, and Zach Sudfeld in Hernandez's "flex" tight end position.

Although Ballard can't come close to matching Gronk's receiving skills, he is an efficient blocker at the line of scrimmage, helping Stevan Ridley's fantasy cause. Sudfeld is also an obvious downgrade from Hernandez, although he could be rather heavily targeted in the passing game at least until Gronkowski gets back. Ballard appears to have beaten out Daniel Fells for the in-line tight end position. He still holds very little fantasy appeal. Sudfeld is worth drafting as a back-end TE1 in the short term.

Patriots TE Jake Ballard has fallen behind journeyman Daniel Fells and UDFA Zach Sudfeld in the training camp pecking order.

Per the Boston Globe, Ballard "has looked stiff at times" on the practice field. He's also vying with Michael Hoomanawanui for a roster spot. The Patriots could still end up keeping Ballard on the 53-man roster to be an in-line blocker.

ESPN Boston agrees that TE Jake Ballard "could have a tough time" cracking the Patriots' 53-man roster.

Another layer of the onion is peeled away. Beat writer Mike Reiss believes Ballard's knee is still an issue. Ballard drew massive sleeper hype in the wake of Rob Gronkowski's surgeries and Aaron Hernandez's release, but the fact remains that he's an extremely limited athlete coming back from a major injury of his own. There's a reason the Giants were willing to try and sneak Ballard through waivers last summer. Even if he does earn a roster spot, Ballard is not going to be a fantasy factor.

ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported on NFL Insiders that TE Jake Ballard is in danger of not making the Patriots' roster.

"He's struggled so much there's now even a question whether he'll make the roster," were Mort's words. Ballard has been in and out of practice, battling complications from his knee reconstruction and microfracture surgeries. He was never a realistic fantasy option, and that's clearer than ever now. Rookie Zach Sudfeld has passed Ballard as both a real-life and fantasy prospect.

Jake Ballard (knee) was unable to participate in Saturday's intra-squad scrimmage.

Per the Providence Journal, Ballard is "having problems" as he returns from his ACL reconstruction and microfracture surgery. After looking strong in the first couple days after coming off active/PUP, he's "slowed" and "not moved as well." Ballard is getting outplayed by intriguing UDFA Zach Sudfeld and his roster spot is in jeopardy.

Patriots TE Jake Ballard is down to 260 pounds after playing with the Giants at 278.

Ballard says the lower weight is better for his surgically-repaired knees, and that would make a ton of sense. However, it hasn't helped with his speed and movement skills, which have been described as "rigid" and "slogging." The peculiarly popular fantasy sleeper is going to disappoint if on your squad.

Patriots activated TE Jake Ballard (knees) from the active/PUP list.

Ballard passed his physical and participated in Tuesday's practice. He spent all of a half-day on PUP. There haven't been many positive reports surrounding Ballard this summer, but the true test will come when the pads are on.

Ben Volin of the Boston Globe considers TE Jake Ballard "not a lock" for the Patriots' final roster.

We didn't think he was, but there's a perception that Ballard will have a big role in New England's offense. It's unlikely. Volin observed "stiff" movement from Ballard in OTAs, which is in addition to fellow Pats beat writers describing him as "rigid" and "slogging." The Late Round QB's JJ Zachariason has compared Ballard's running ability to a cross between Cam Cleeland and a dad.

Patriots placed TE Jake Ballard (knee) on the active/PUP list.

Reports on Ballard's spring practice work were thoroughly negative, with one describing his movement as "slogging" and another as "rigid." He's still working his way back from reconstructive and microfracture knee surgeries. An oddly popular fantasy sleeper, Ballard is likely to disappoint anyone drafting him.