The Jets have swapped one defensive lineman for another. The team announced on Twitter that they’ve signed Shaneil Jenkins. To make room on the roster, the Jets released Courtney Upshaw.
Upshaw, 28, joined the Jets organization last month following a two-season stint with the Falcons. The former second-round served as mostly a backup during his time in Atlanta, including a 2017 campaign where he compiled nine tackles, one sack, and one forced fumble in 13 games. Upshaw spent the first four seasons of his career with the Ravens, where he won a Super Bowl championship as a rookie. The veteran was placed on the Jets’ non-football injury list yesterday, with Rich Cimini wondering if the team was unhappy with a “conditioning issue” (Twitter link).
Jenkins, 24, has bounced around the league since going undrafted out of Shepherd University in 2016. The six-foot-four, 275-pound defensive end has had stints with the Broncos, Cowboys, Seahawks, and Packers. He showed some promise during the preseason of his rookie year, compiling a pair of sacks for Dallas. However, he’s been unable to take the field for a regular season game.
Similar to Upshaw, Jenkins will have a difficult time making the Jets roster. Behind starters Leonard Williams and Henry Anderson, the team is also rostering defensive ends David Bass, Nathan Shepherd, Xavier Cooper, and Ed Stinson.