Andrew Hawkins, who signed a one-year deal with the New England Patriots in May, has decided to retire from football.

"After OTAs and through summer training, my body just didn't respond and wasn't feeling the way it should going into camp," the 31-year-old wide receiver said. "Basically it just started breaking down on me."

The Concussion Legacy Foundation says Hawkins has pledged his brain for research into CTE.

Hawkins was trying to crack a crowded wide receiver depth chart, with Julian Edelman, Brandin Cooks, Chris Hogan, Malcolm Mitchell and Danny Amendola.