Jets Continue Tweaking

Edition #688

Good morning! ☕

If you’ve never been to Cologne (Koln) make a note to try it if you’re ever in Germany. This is my second time here and it’s a beautiful city with one of the most incredible cathedral you’re ever likely to see.

The Jets meanwhile continue to tweak their roster and they made a couple of interesting additions yesterday. This week we’re going to quickly run through the news and then it’s over to you!

🟢According to multiple reports, the Jets are signing Lewis Cine. The former Georgia man was a 1st round pick of the Vikings back in 2022 and at just 24-years-old he has his entire career ahead of him. He fractured his leg in week four of his rookie campaign and it’s been an uphill battle ever since. He has flashed some real potential at times and at Georgia he was a thumper but didn’t always showcase the range that NFL teams want. Safety is perhaps the Jets weakest position group and Cine will get every opportunity here under a very talented coaching staff. As someone who really rated Cine coming out of college, I’m looking forward to seeing how he develops. According to Rich Cimini, the expectation is that he is elevated as soon as he learns the playbook.

⚪ The Jets claimed former Bears TE Brenden Bates on waivers. The former Georgia Tech man caught 6 passes for 100 yards in the pre-season and comes from a run heavy offence where he was asked to do a lot of blocking and not a lot of catching. He spent 6 years at Georgia Tech and caught 25 passes and 2 touchdowns. But he has over 700 run blocking snaps to his name and over 400 special team reps to his name, and as we saw in Chicago this pre-season, just because you haven’t caught a lot of footballs doesn’t mean you can’t catch them. To make room for him the Jets decided to waive Jason Brownlee.

🟢Dalvin Cook is being signed by the Cowboys following his workout. They must have been something that was entirely missing during his time with the Jets.

⚪ As of writing this today, I don’t have all the names of the players sticking around. But according to The Athletic, Jaylen Key will be returning to the Jets on their practice squad. Brandon Smith is also returning, as is Kohl Levao, Jake Hanson and Xazavian Valladay. They did lose Shemar Bartholomew, who was claimed on waivers by the Carolina Panthers.

Updated list of the 17 players

🟢A little bit of former Jets QB movement. Tim Boyle is signing with the Dolphins practice squad and Mike White is signing with the Buffalo Bills practice squad.

⚪ Al Blades Jr who spent the off-season with the Jets is working out for the Giants today in the hope of securing a deal.

The 49ers activated star safety Talanoa Hufanga (knee) from the PUP list and placed RB Elijah Mitchell on season ending IR. I’m not sure that Hufanga makes it back for that Jets clash considering how long he’s been out, but I don’t believe Harbaugh has ruled it out and this is a positive step for him.

The 49ers cut five players they selected in their nine-man draft classes of 2022 and 2023. The team waived wide receiver Danny Gray (2022, third round), cornerback Samuel Womack (2022, fifth), linebacker Jalen Graham (2023, seventh) and tight ends Cameron Latu (2023, third) and Brayden Willis (2023, seventh). That’s a lot of draft picks to cut in one go, but if you’re not good enough you’re not good enough.