Antonio Brown added more intrigue to the mystery surrounding his training camp absence with an Instagram post on Friday afternoon.

Brown, 31, has been unable to participate in a full practice with the Oakland Raiders. While most have believed it was due to a lingering foot injury—possibly caused by having cryotherapy barefoot—new details emerged earlier on Friday from various reporters, all mentioning a grievance with the NFL from Brown about new helmets with updated safety regulations.

After the initial swath of reports on Brown, the seven-time Pro-Bowler, entering his first season with the Raiders, shared a video mash-up on Instagram that highlighted various defensive backs praising Brown as the “toughest” wideout they had defended.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B09BnpLhqvL/

Brown's grievance with the new headwear could, reportedly, lead him to retire from the NFL. A clip from an interview conducted in March of this year dug up a quote from Brown, stating he'd be “perfectly” fine leaving the league.

Article Continues Below
More Las Vegas Raiders News
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) warms up against the Kansas City Chiefs prior go a game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images
Raiders superstar Maxx Crosby drops mic with ‘be delusional’ messageBen Strauss ·
Las Vegas Raiders first round draft pick in the 2025 NFL Draft Ashton Jeanty, speaks to the media at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Raiders’ Chip Kelly reveals particular skill that separates Ashton JeantyZachary Weinberger ·
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) scrambles away from Los Angeles Rams linebacker Byron Young (0) and throws for a touchdown in the first half at SoFi Stadium.
Raiders’ Geno Smith explains why Seahawks trade excited himJulian Ojeda ·
Pete Carroll and John Spytek have three hidden gems to work with this season
3 Las Vegas Raiders hidden gems on 2025 roster you need to knowLorenzo J Reyna ·
raiders, tyree wilson
1 Las Vegas Raiders player with most to prove at OTAsGarrett Kerman ·
Las Vegas Raiders coach Pete Carroll on radio row during the NFL Scouting Combine at the Indiana Convention Center.
Why Raiders’ Jakobi Meyers thinks Pete Carroll is on ‘some type of drug’Zachary Weinberger ·

Now, Brown's Instagram post created more speculation as he captioned it, “if I leave will the fans still gone love me, man?”

Brown spent nine seasons with Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers, becoming one of, if not, the top wide receiver options lining up every Sunday in the NFL. He has earned four first-team All-Pro honors, but frustrated with the team and his contract following the conclusion of the 2018 season; the Steelers traded him in the spring to Oakland for a third- and fifth-round pick in the 2019 draft.

Brown has been one of the focuses of attention of HBO's “Hard Knocks,” as the premium cable network's annual program follows the Oakland franchise in training camp this August.