Former New York Jets nose tackle Kris Jenkins, who missed most of the last two seasons because of severe knee injuries, announced his retirement Wednesday from the NFL.

Jenkins, 31, in a message on his Facebook page, 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."

Jenkins' 6-foot-5, 360-pound body absorbed significant punishment over 10 seasons, the first seven with the Carolina Panthers. Jenkins underwent reconstructive surgery twice in less than 12 months to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. The latter injury occurred in the 2010 opener, on the sixth play of the season.

Jenkins missed 25 of 32 games over the last two seasons. Early in his career, he missed nearly two full seasons because of knee and shoulder operations.