The Jets have signed a pair of players to reserve/futures contracts, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Schefter reports that linebacker Freddie Bishop has reached an agreement on a two-year deal with the Jets, who have also added kicker Kyle Brindza to their roster.
Bishop, who played his college ball at Western Michigan, has spent the last two seasons with the CFL’s Calgary Stampeders. He was one of the league’s more effective edge rushers in 2015, tying for fourth with 11 sacks. Bishop worked out for the Chargers, Steelers, Titans, Eagles, Patriots, Bears, and the Jets in December and January before agreeing to terms with New York.
As for Brindza, the 23-year-old began the 2015 season as the Buccaneers’ kicker, beating out veteran Connor Barth for the job. However, he struggled mightily in the role, and was waived after just four games. After missing just one of nine total kicks in his first two games, Brindza missed two extra points and converted only two of seven field goal attempts in Weeks 3 and 4.
Randy Bullock, who finished the season as the Jets’ kicker, is eligible for free agency and likely won’t return. For Brindza to earn a roster spot though, he’ll have to beat out Nick Folk, who ended the year on injured reserve and still has two years left on his contract. Folk’s cap number jumps to $3.34MM in 2016, which could give the inexpensive Brindza an opening to earn the job with a strong training camp.
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