The Jets will take a flier on a recently waived Patriot. Second-year tackle Antonio Garcia will have a chance with the Jets after the team plucked him from the waiver wire, Field Yates of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter).
A 2017 third-round pick, Garcia did not play as a rookie and saw the Patriots revamp their tackle situation during the most recent draft weekend.
The Patriots waived Garcia with a non-football injury designation. The former Troy standout had blood clots in his lungs, causing him to miss last season. He spent it on the Patriots’ non-football illness list. Although New England lost Nate Solder in free agency, Isaiah Wynn and Trent Brown are now in the picture. And Garcia will head to the Jets, who also gave Kony Ealy a shot last year after the Pats cut him.
Shipping three draft choices to the Colts for the right to select Sam Darnold, the Jets did not address their tackle situation with outside help in the draft or in free agency. Kelvin Beachum started all 16 games for the Jets at left tackle last season, and Brandon Shell started 12 at right tackle. Both were top-45 tackles last season, per Pro Football Focus. The Jets re-signed Ben Ijalana as well, and Garcia is now in this mix.
Garcia was down 50 + pounds from blood clot / treatment related issues. Could be a good pick up down the line if he can get that weight back.
Nevermind that. He’s probably being debriefed on what he knows about New England’s offense. My hope is he just gets well.