Carolina Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis announced Wednesday night that the Panthers informed him Monday they were going in “a different direction at the linebacker position” and would not be re-signing him. However, Davis says he's not retiring and intends to keep playing in 2019.

“Carolina is going to always be home for me and my family, but I'm not retiring,” said Davis. “I feel like I have way too much football left in me to walk away from the game right now, so I want to keep playing. I'm going to keep playing. Hopefully, someone is going to give me that opportunity.”

Davis, who was selected by Carolina with the 14th pick of the 2005 draft, has spent his entire 14-year NFL career with the Panthers. He is the all-time franchise leader in tackles with 1,111.

After being suspended for the first four games of the season due to performance-enhancing drugs, he ended up playing 12 games, recording 79 tackles.

Davis said after the season finale that he wanted to return for a 15th season. However, he did say he would consider playing for another team if the Panthers didn’t re-sign him.

“It was extremely tough for me to deal with,” Davis said of Carolina's decision to move on. “That's why you guys are just hearing from me right now because I wanted to be back, I wanted to be a part of a group that came and righted the wrongs we had this season.

“As one of the leaders of this team I took full responsibility for some of the things we allowed to happen, and the games that we lost consecutively. I wanted to come back and help fix that, but unfortunately I'm not going to have that opportunity.”

With Davis gone, Shaq Thompson is expected to take on the strongside linebacker role alongside star middle linebacker Luke Kuechly.