Twice this year, Antonio Brown has invoked the possibility of early retirement. The most recent instance was in regards to the odd helmet controversy, but with an arbitrator ruling against Brown on Monday, the Raiders receiver appeared to back off this threat.

Brown posted (via Twitter) he plans on returning to the Raiders for what will be his 10th NFL season. He will be doing so wearing a new helmet, but it does not look like that was the deal-breaker Brown initially indicated. It is now “very unlikely” Brown will appeal the arbitrator’s decision, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.

“While I disagree with the arbitrator’s decision, I’m working on getting back to full health and looking forward to rejoining my teammates on the field,” Brown tweeted.

The Raiders, who traded third- and fifth-round picks to the Steelers to acquire the mercurial superstar, backed Brown over the weekend. Jon Gruden voiced support for the 31-year-old talent’s helmet matter and categorized Brown’s foot injury — reportedly stemming from a cryogenic chamber mishap — as being “a total accident.”

Brown has not participated in a full Raiders training camp practice yet, but it certainly looks like the team will not have to worry about its high-profile trade acquisition leaving the game early.

Fortunately Antonio Brown hasn’t filed his retirement papers yet. The Raiders’ star receiver threatened to hang up his cleats over a dispute about what helmet he’ll wear this season, but things appear to be deescalating. 

Brown “is expected to rejoin the club at its training camp headquarters in the near future,” a team official told Michael Gehlken of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Brown has been staying away from the team’s practices the past couple weeks. His absences were originally thought to be due to his frostbitten feet, but it was revealed today it’s actually about the helmet.

Gehlken reports that a ruling from the arbitrator is expected sometime next week on whether or not Brown can wear his current helmet. All equipment must be approved by the National Operating Committee for Standards and Athletic Equipment, and they apparently refuse to test Brown’s model because it is more than ten years old. Brown’s wasn’t among the helmets that were banned this offseason, his just wasn’t even included in the NOCSAE’s study because it was more than a decade old. Since that model wasn’t specifically banned for not being safe, his appeal could have some hope.

Gehklen notes that the team next practices on Monday, and whether or not he’s present will go a long way in determining what kind of story this is going to be moving forward. Of course this is Brown we’re talking about, so while things seem to be heading in the right direction for now, that can change at any moment. We’ll keep you updated as we hear more.

Raiders wide receiver Antonio Brown has filed a grievance against the NFL to be permitted to wear his preferred helmet, league sources tell ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter. There was some recent scuttlebutt that Brown was skipping Raiders camp in response to the cryotherapy treatment that damaged his foot. Rather, it seems that Brown is staying away as he fights the league for his right to wear the headgear that he wants. 

It’s yet another strange twist for Brown, who spent the 2018 season clashing with teammates, coaches, and executives in Pittsburgh. The former Steelers star could be primed for big things in Oakland, but he’s presently in a holding pattern.

On the helmet front – Brown is expected to have a hearing in the coming days, and an arbitrator will decide whether or not he gets to wear the helmet he wants. Meanwhile, Brown continues to meet with specialists to solve his foot issue.

The Raiders are “aware and supportive of Antonio Brown, but [have] no further comment,” the team told Schefter.

We finally have some clarity on Antonio Brown‘s foot injury, and it’s a doozy. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that the Raiders wideout suffered frostbite during a “cryogenic chamber mishap.” An ESPN.com report provides even more context, noting that Brown wasn’t wearing the proper footwear when he entered the chamber last month in France.

Brown opened training camp with his new team on the active/NFI list, and the receiver subsequently visited a foot specialist for a “very minor” foot injury. The Raiders offseason acquisition was later categorized as “day to day,” but it sounds like that designation has since changed.

Today, coach Jon Gruden told ESPN’s Sal Paolantonio that Brown was “still collecting information” on the injury. While the team is hoping to learn more later this week, there currently isn’t a timetable for the receiver’s return.

Brown ended his prolific Steelers career with a trade request, and he was ultimately dealt to the Raiders for a third- and fifth-round draft pick. Naturally, Gruden is excited to add the seven-time Pro Bowler into his offense, but he’ll have to be patient for the time being.

“You know me, it is like waiting for Santa Claus,” Gruden said of anticipating Brown’s return. “I have been really excited to coach this man. I think he is a great player and he is a great competitor. We need his life in this offense and on this football team. We will just cross our fingers. I will make no speculation whatsoever. He has to get it evaluated. He has to get the information he needs, and when he does, he will be back.”

Brown finished last season with 104 receptions for 1,297 yards and 15 touchdowns. It was his sixth straight season with at least 1,200 receiving yards and 100 receptions.