2023 June - Pro Football Rumors

Month: January 2025

Latest On Free Agent RB Kareem Hunt

June 22nd, 2023 at 9:21pm CST by Ben Levine

While Dalvin Cook and Ezekiel Elliott have commanded the headlines, there’s another former Pro Bowl running back who remains unsigned. With only weeks remaining until training camps open, Kareem Hunt is still a free agent. However, the veteran running back isn’t sweating his current status and expects to be on an NFL roster sooner than later.

Lae“I’m just being patient,” Hunt told Jeff Schudel of The News-Herald. “I’ve had some things come up. But right now, I’m enjoying my time with my family. I’m training and working hard and just staying ready.

“I’m not frustrated at all. It’s going to work itself out. Right now I’m just here to enjoy time with my family and show these kids a good time at this football camp. I know it’s all going to work out at the end of the day.”

Hunt found a home in Cleveland over the past four seasons, including a 2020 campaign where he finished with 1,145 yards from scrimmage and 11 touchdowns. The former third-round pick has continually served as the RB2 in Cleveland behind Nick Chubb, an arrangement that worked out for Hunt through his first three seasons with the organization. However, Hunt started to express displeasure about his role heading into his contract season, resulting in a public trade request. Hunt ended up sticking in Cleveland and saw a career-low 9.3 touches per game during the 2022 campaign.

The Browns haven’t done much to improve their RB corps this offseason, and with D’Ernest Johnson off to Jacksonville, former fifth-round pick Jerome Ford is set to be the top backup behind Chubb. While Hunt wasn’t particularly happy with his role in 2022, he didn’t completely shut the door on a return to Cleveland.

“The Browns are always going to be a team I have mad love for, but I’m not really talking about that stuff,” Hunt said. “I’m enjoying my time at this football camp and focused on my body and my mind. I’m in God’s hands and just looking forward to the next opportunity. It’ll be coming up soon, I’m pretty sure.”

Heading into what should be his age-28 season, Hunt will likely find a landing spot once injuries hit and teams get a longer look at their running back depth.

Bills Notes: Cook, Cornerback, Ateman, Coaching Staff

June 22nd, 2023 at 8:32pm CST by Ben Levine

The Bills have done some work revamping their running back depth chart this offseason, but the team’s main holdover believes he’s ready to secure the starting gig. During an appearance on The Rich Eisen Show, James Cook made it clear that he’s ready to be the team’s top running back.

“Obviously, RB1,” Cook responded when asked about his role in 2023 (h/t Ryan Talbot of NewYorkUpstate.com). “So you know, just come in and do what I do. Change the game with my versatility. Catching the ball out of the backfield. Pass blocking. Just try to do what I can do to help the team win games and ultimately win the Super Bowl.”

The Georgia product was a second-round pick by the Bills last offseason and ended up getting into 16 games as a rookie. While he played second fiddle to Devin Singletary, Cook still finished the season with 687 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns. Singletary is now out of the picture, although the Bills did bring in Damien Harris and Latavius Murray for some extra depth.

Even with the additions, Cook is confident that he’s prepared to be the starter, and the second-year player sounds like he’s ready to stand alongside his brother, Dalvin Cook, when it comes to the league’s top running backs.

“My goal is to be an All-Pro or Pro Bowler like my brother,” Cook said. “Hopefully be in the Pro Bowl with him one day.”

More notes out of Buffalo…

It’s uncertain who will start opposite Tre’Davious White at cornerback, but Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic believes the gig will ultimately come down to three players. Dane Jackson, Christian Benford, and 2022 first-round pick Kaiir Elam will “likely remain in a battle” for the CB2 gig once training camp opens, according to the writer. Buscaglia notes that the coaching staff has been adamant that the role won’t be influenced by contract or draft pedigree, meaning the competition is truly wide open for all three players.
The Bills added Marcell Ateman earlier this month, and Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com tweets that the receiver inked a one-year, $940K deal. The wideout played for the St. Louis BattleHawks in the XFL this season, totaling 259 yards while not scoring a touchdown. The Oklahoma State product was a seventh-round pick by the Raiders in 2018, and he compiled 20 receptions for 270 yards and a touchdown through his first two seasons in the NFL. In Buffalo, he’s expected to be a special teamer and end-of-the-depth-chart option at WR.
The Bills announced yesterday (via Twitter) that they’ve promoted Eric Washington to assistant head coach/defensive line coach. The veteran coach joined the organization in 2020 as their DL coach, and he earned a promotion to senior defensive assistant before last season. He had previous stops with the Bears and Panthers, including a one-year stint as defensive coordinator in Carolina.
The Bills have some extra depth on the edge, meaning they could look to move on from one of their former second-round picks. Earlier today, our own Adam La Rose explored the trade candidacy of Carlos Basham Jr..

This Date In Transactions History: Chiefs Fire John Dorsey, Extend Andy Reid

June 22nd, 2023 at 7:11pm CST by Ben Levine

On the same day the Chiefs committed to their head coach, they let go of their general manager. On June 22, 2017, the Chiefs extended head coach Andy Reid before firing general manager John Dorsey.

The Chiefs brought in both Reid and Dorsey during the 2013 offseason, reuniting the two after they previously worked alongside each other in Green Bay. The duo was simply looking to return Kansas City to the postseason for just the second time in seven years, and they succeeded right away, with the Chiefs going 11-5 during the 2013 campaign.

The team was consistent over the following three seasons, earning two more playoff appearances while averaging more than 10 wins per season. It appeared it was going to be status quo for the 2017 campaign, although this time, Dorsey and the Chiefs showed a willingness to consider a post-Alex Smith era when they traded up for Patrick Mahomes at the 10th-overall pick. The Chiefs made a few more significant moves (including signing Eric Berry to a hefty extension) before they made the sudden decision to move off of their GM.

“I notified John that we would not be extending his contract beyond the 2017 season, and after consideration, we felt it was in his best interests and the best interests of the team to part ways now,” CEO Clark Hunt said at the time. “This decision, while a difficult one, allows John to pursue other opportunities as we continue our preparations for the upcoming season and the seasons to come. My family and I sincerely appreciate John’s work over the last four-and-a-half years, and we wish him nothing but the best in the future.”

This was an especially surprising development considering the organization announced that they had extended Reid earlier that day.

“My family and I have been very pleased by the success the franchise has sustained over the last four seasons under Coach Reid,” Hunt said. “He has already established himself as one of the best coaches in the league, and he is well on his way to solidifying a place among the all-time greats. We are proud to have him leading our football team, and I look forward to working with him to bring a championship to Chiefs Kingdom.”

It was never made clear why Reid was afforded a longer leash than Dorsey, but following the firing, we learned that the GM didn’t have many fans thanks to his management style and salary cap mismanagement. His cap issues ultimately led to the ouster of several fan favorites, including Jamaal Charles and Derrick Johnson.

Six years later, we can confidently say the Chiefs were right to commit to their head coach. The team eventually took off with Mahomes under center, and the organization has since won two of their three Super Bowl appearances. Reid earned another extension with the organization in 2020.

Things are a bit more complicated when it comes to Dorsey. Brett Veach has guided the Chiefs to two championships as general manager, but Dorsey has earned some praise for his contributions to the eventual Super Bowl champs (especially his selection of Mahomes). Of course, those Super Bowls don’t show up on the executive’s resume; what does show up is his underwhelming two-year stint in Cleveland. He joined the Browns less than a year after his Kansas City firing, and despite having some key draft selections (including the first-overall pick) and some major veteran acquisitions (including Odell Beckham Jr.), Cleveland only went 13-18-1 with Dorsey at the helm.

Thanks to the value of hindsight, we know that the Chiefs undoubtedly made the correct decision on this day six years ago. However, it’s fair to wonder if retaining Dorsey would have drastically altered this team’s future Super Bowl chances.

Rams Sign QB Stetson Bennett To Rookie Contract

June 22nd, 2023 at 5:27pm CST by Ben Levine

The Rams have signed their first-year quarterback to his rookie contract. According to ESPN’s Field Yates (on Twitter), the Rams have signed quarterback Stetson Bennett.

Before putting himself on the NFL radar during the 2021 and 2022 campaigns, Bennett had issues even carving out a role in the NCAA. The Georgia walk-on transferred to Jones College after not taking a snap during his freshman season. After Justin Fields transferred to Ohio State, Georgia was in need of depth at the position, and Bennett returned to the school for the 2019 campaign.

He served as a backup over the next two years, and he entered his fifth-year senior season as the second-stringer to JT Daniels. Bennett ended up getting the call after Daniels went down with an injury and proceeded to complete 64.5 percent of his passes for 2,862 yards, 29 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. Despite a shaky performance in the SEC Championship Game, Georgia stuck with Bennett as their starter en route to the 2022 College Football National Championship.

Bennett returned to Georgia for his sixth-year senior season in 2022 and improved his numbers, finishing with 4,128 passing yards, 27 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. He later earned offensive MVP of the 2023 College Football National Championship after accounting for six total touchdowns.

Considering his advanced age and somewhat limited college track record, there were some questions about where Bennett would land in the draft. The Rams ended up scooping him up in the fourth round, allowing the rookie some time to learn the offense behind Matthew Stafford. The Rams are also rostering QBs Brett Rypien and UDFA Dresser Winn.

The Rams have slowly but surely been signing their draft picks to rookie contracts. Third-round linebacker Byron Young and third-round defensive tackle Kobie Turner are the most significant names to remain unsigned.

TE Marcedes Lewis Eyeing 18th Season, Has Spoken With Teams

June 22nd, 2023 at 4:55pm CST by Sam Robinson

The list of tight ends to play into their late 30s is short, but a few have joined Marcedes Lewis in logging an age-38 season. Antonio Gates, Jason Witten and Hall of Famer Jackie Smith did so. Only Ben Watson has voyaged into an age-39 campaign.

Lewis, who turned 39 last month, is attempting to join Watson and set a tight end record in the process. While Watson played until age 39, he suited up in 16 seasons. Lewis, Witten and Tony Gonzalez are the only two to reach 17. Lewis will attempt to wade into uncharted waters by playing an 18th. The former Jaguars and Packers tight end is not planning to retire and has said conversations with multiple teams have occurred this offseason.

“I get the business side of it. My agent is in talks with a handful of teams, but it’s just small talk,” Lewis said, via The Associated Press’ Mark Long. “I guess teams are trying to figure out their rosters and what they need.”

The Packers carried Lewis on their roster for the past four seasons, utilizing the 270-pound tight end’s blocking prowess. Green Bay has since moved on from some of its veterans, and the team used two Day 2 picks at the position (second-rounder Luke Musgrave, third-rounder Tucker Kraft). The Pack let Robert Tonyan, Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb walk in free agency, being set to outfit Jordan Love with a full complement of rookie-contract players in the QB’s first year as a starter. Lewis may not be entirely out of the picture for a Green Bay return. But multiple reports earlier this year indicated the team is unlikely to make another contract offer.

The obvious team for the former Jags first-rounder would be the Jets. Aaron Rodgers is believed to have placed the four-year Packer on his Jets wish list. Considering the team’s additions of Cobb, Lazard and Billy Turner, it would not surprise if Lewis became another ex-Nathaniel Hackett Green Bay charge to head to the Big Apple. Robert Saleh did not shut this down when asked about the prospect recently, though the Jets do employ veterans Tyler Conklin and C.J. Uzomah along with 2022 third-rounder Jeremy Ruckert and seventh-round rookie Zack Kuntz.

A Raiders agreement also came up on Lewis’ radar, per Long, but the team’s trade-up move for Michael Mayer at No. 35 may scuttle that. Las Vegas also added Austin Hooper and O.J. Howard this offseason. Lewis would be eager to mentor a tight end prospect, but a deal would likely come together closer to training camp or during preseason workouts — as teams assess their various position groups to determine needs.

“For older players, there’s two things where they could potentially not get picked up,” Lewis said. “One is that their play is declining for their role. The second thing is they’re asking for too much money. I’m neither of those. I just want to compete.”

Lewis, who signed three Packers contracts from 2019-22, played out a two-year deal worth $5.92MM last season. Working as the Pack’s primary blocking tight end, Lewis started 17 games — only Gonzalez (254) and Witten (252) top Lewis’ 221 starts among tight ends — and played 451 offensive snaps. Lewis, who has missed one game over the past six seasons, played between 400 and 500 snaps in each of his four Green Bay slates. Pro Football Focus graded the 6-foot-6 veteran as the fifth-best run-blocking tight end in 2022.

DeAndre Hopkins Weighing Offers From Patriots, Titans

June 22nd, 2023 at 3:16pm CST by Sam Robinson

Both of DeAndre Hopkins‘ visits produced contract proposals. The Titans and Patriots each made the free agent wide receiver an offer, Dianna Russini of ESPN.com said during an NFL Live appearance.

Hopkins is weighing both potential deals but is angling for more teams to emerge as suitors, per Russini (h/t MassLive.com). Other teams have been mentioned as interested, but Hopkins has only trekked to Nashville and New England since his Arizona release. The Patriots made a push to sign Hopkins last week. However, the former All-Pro is holding out for more.

Considering both teams told Hopkins they believe he can still be an impact receiver, it is unsurprising each submitted an offer during their respective visits. The Titans secured the first meeting and look to need receiving help a bit more than the Patriots. That said, Bill Belichick has long been intrigued by Hopkins’ skillset. And the team is aiming to maximize Mac Jones‘ capabilities this season, after the former first-round pick took a step back as the Patriots followed through with a strange 2022 setup that featured the since-departed Matt Patricia at the controls.

It does not sound like Hopkins is eager to accept one of these offers in the near future, with Russini echoing the refrain of patience. The 31-year-old receiver has clearly not received the kind of offer he wanted during either visit, and neither Jones nor Ryan Tannehill were on the list of quarterbacks with whom Hopkins would most want to align. Two of the passers on said list — Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen — lead teams that have been closely connected to this pursuit this offseason. Both the Chiefs and Bills negotiated a trade with the Cardinals. Kansas City’s discussions involved Hopkins adjusting his contract to facilitate a trade, but after the Ravens gave Odell Beckham Jr. $15MM guaranteed in late March, those talks ceased.

Hopkins likely hopes one or both of those AFC powerhouses will jump back into this derby — if nothing else, to accelerate his market — and the Chiefs can increase their cap space by extending Chris Jones. Talks are ongoing. The Chiefs ($409K) and Bills ($5.5MM) sit at or near the bottom for available funds. The Patriots hold $14.9MM; the Titans carry $7.9MM.

Tennessee has been reeling at wide receiver since trading A.J. Brown, a move that wounded the team’s passing attack last season. The Titans used a 2022 first-round pick on Treylon Burks, but he battled injuries as a rookie and finished with 444 receiving yards and one touchdown. More will be expected of Burks this year, but the Titans are light on complementary help as well. Nick Westbrook-Ikhine might be Tennessee’s top WR2 presence; the team did not draft a receiver until Round 7.

New England was more active this offseason, signing JuJu Smith-Schuster to a three-year, $25.5MM deal. The Pats used a second-round pick on Tyquan Thornton last year, but injuries limited the Baylor product as a rookie. DeVante Parker and Kendrick Bourne remain rostered, while the Pats also used two sixth-round choices on receivers. The team did not see consistency from its Bourne and Nelson Agholor 2021 investments, so it would be interesting to see another two-signing offseason. But Hopkins could obviously help this receiving corps.

Alex Leatherwood On Bears’ Roster Bubble

June 22nd, 2023 at 2:08pm CST by Sam Robinson

Since the Raiders received considerable criticism for drafting Alex Leatherwood in the 2021 first round, the young offensive lineman has been unable to carve out a steady role for either of his two NFL teams. The second of those looks to be considering moving on early as well.

After the Raiders found no takers for Leatherwood’s first-round contract last summer, the Bears claimed it through waivers. The Alabama product remains attached to that deal, but the Bears may not have a roster spot for the third-year blocker. Leatherwood is on the Bears’ roster bubble, with the Chicago Tribune’s Brad Biggs noting a place on the 53-man squad should not be considered secure.

Leatherwood, however, is still in the mix for one of the team’s reserve O-line roles. The Bears have been active along their offensive front this offseason, adding four-year Titans starting guard Nate Davis and using the No. 10 overall pick on Tennessee tackle Darnell Wright. Davis is ticketed to be Chicago’s right guard, while Courtney Cronin of ESPN.com notes Wright has been working as the team’s starting right tackle this offseason. Wright spent more time at right tackle than on the left side with the Volunteers, making for an easier transition as a pro.

Demoted right tackle Larry Borom has operated as the Bears’ swingman behind Wright and left tackle Braxton Jones this offseason, though Biggs adds no clear swing tackle is present just yet. Leatherwood will likely compete for that job in training camp. Backup guard Ja’Tyre Carter worked in with the first team during offseason practices as well during OTAs and minicamp; the Bears chose Carter in last year’s seventh round. Leatherwood has seen time at guard and tackle as a pro but has not been able to catch on at either post.

Jon Gruden‘s staff moved Leatherwood to guard early in his rookie season, and he started all 17 games. Those starts were not well reviewed, and Josh McDaniels‘ staff shifted Leatherwood back to right tackle last year. Despite the Raiders running into injury issues at that spot, they did not see enough from Leatherwood to carry his contract onto the 53-man roster. The Bears did not see much from Leatherwood last season, either. A mononucleosis bout led to Leatherwood’s placement on the reserve/non-football illness list in September. The Bears used last season as a developmental year, activating Leatherwood in late October but not using him in a game until December. Leatherwood totaled 32 offensive snaps last season.

Leatherwood, 24, is only attached to a $1.97MM cap number. It would cost the Bears more to remove the contract from their cap sheet, as a $4.5MM dead-money figure would arrive in that instance. If the Bears cut Leatherwood, only Wright would remain as a former first-round pick on Chicago’s O-line. Jones emerged out of last year’s fifth round, while left guard Teven Jenkins and center Cody Whitehair were second-rounders. The Titans chose Davis in the 2019 third round.

Raiders’ Brian Hoyer Considered Retirement

June 22nd, 2023 at 1:19pm CST by Sam Robinson

Brian Hoyer has gone from the Patriots’ injured reserve list to receiving key Raiders offseason reps, as Jimmy Garoppolo recovers from his latest surgery. A former UDFA, Hoyer ran the Raiders’ offense during their spring work.

This unusual opportunity comes after the veteran quarterback considered retirement following the 2022 season, Vic Tafur of The Athletic notes (subscription required). Hoyer, 37, has been in the NFL since 2009, when he signed with New England. A multi-stint Patriot backup, Hoyer wrapped his latest run with the team last season.

Before Bailey Zappe received an unexpected chance to start as a rookie, Hoyer replaced Mac Jones after the Pats starter suffered a high ankle sprain. Hoyer started against the Packers in October and completed 5 of 6 passes, but he made it just 15 snaps before a concussion sidelined him. The journeyman arm did not play again last season. Hoyer was not expected to miss the rest of the year and believed he was ready to be activated later in the season, but the Pats kept him on IR.

The Raiders, who have brought in several ex-Josh McDaniels Patriots charges, had Hoyer on their radar as a mentor type before signing Garoppolo. After a Patriots release, Hoyer secured $4.21MM guaranteed on a two-year, $4.5MM contract. That proved enough to convince the 14-year vet to keep going. The Raiders attempted to retain Jarrett Stidham, but he opted for a $5MM guarantee to be Russell Wilson‘s Broncos backup. Hoyer will turn 38 in October. While the Michigan State alum has not made more than one start in a season since 2017 — when he opened the Kyle Shanahan era as San Francisco’s starter — Garoppolo’s injury history certainly opens the door for a late-career opportunity in Las Vegas.

Garoppolo is expected to be cleared from his foot surgery before training camp, but the ex-Patriots backup and 49ers starter has battled a number of maladies over the past few seasons. Signed to a three-year, $72.75MM deal — one that now includes an injury waiver — Garoppolo has missed 31 games since his September 2018 ACL tear. Since a healthy 2019 season that ended in Super Bowl LIV, Garoppolo has battled ankle, calf, thumb, shoulder and foot trouble.

The Raiders view Hoyer as a mentor to fourth-round pick Aidan O’Connell, whom Tafur adds will be groomed as a potential long-term backup. Hoyer took the first-team reps during the Silver and Black’s offseason program, but if Garoppolo goes down, it will be interesting to see if the Raiders move Hoyer into action or go with the untested O’Connell. Hoyer, who had the 2014 Browns in the playoff race and piloted the 2015 Texans to the AFC South title, has made 40 career starts. The past 12 of those have not produced a win.

Trade Candidate: Bills DE Carlos Basham Jr.

June 22nd, 2023 at 11:50am CST by Adam La Rose

The Bills have a number of pass rushing options at their disposal compared to previous years. The team has used both free agent deals and the draft to add to their edge rushing arsenal recently, but the latter path has not worked as expected with Carlos Basham Jr. As a result, he could find himself playing elsewhere in 2023.

Selected in the second round of the 2021 draft, ‘Boogie’ came to Buffalo with considerable expectations. His final three seasons at Wake Forest resulted in a total of 19.5 sacks and 33.5 tackles for loss, demonstrating his abilities as a disruptive presence in the passing game coupled with an intriguing frame (6-3, 281 pounds). His first two years in the NFL have not gone as planned, however.

Basham has made 27 combined appearances in the regular season and playoffs, but he has yet to register a start. Playing in a rotational role behind a host of other edge rushers, he has logged a snap share of 39% in both of his Bills campaigns. Notably, his spot in the pecking order is behind that of fellow former second-round pick A.J. Epenesa. Bashasm has totaled 4.5 sacks, five tackles for loss and one interception to date.

Buffalo made a major investment in their defensive front by signing Von Miller last offseason. The future Hall of Famer’s debut Bills season was cut short by an ACL tear, but he has appeared increasingly optimistic that he could be available in time for Week 1 of the 2023 campaign. Even if that is not the case, recent addition Leonard Floyd will give the team an experienced presence off the edge. When at full strength, the Bills’ depth at the position could leave Basham better suited for a new opportunity.

As a result, the latest roster projection from Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic includes Basham being dealt before the start of the season (subscription required). His college pedigree and status as a recent second-rounder could entice teams to take a flier on him, especially since he has two years remaining on his rookie contract. At the age of 25, there could still be considerable potential yet to be unlocked by an acquiring team, particularly one willing to use him both on the edge and the interior.

A trade would yield $1.17MM in cap savings for the Bills in 2023, and another $1.43MM next year, compared to modest dead cap charges. Added flexibility could be valuable given the team’s limited space and their win-now approach, while a change of scenery could result in increased playing time for Basham. In any event, the 2023 season could prove to be a critical one in his pro development.

Jets S Chuck Clark Suffers Torn ACL

June 22nd, 2023 at 10:25am CST by Sam Robinson

JUNE 22: As feared, Clark has indeed suffered a torn ACL (Twitter link via ESPN’s Adam Schefter). The news represents the worst-case scenario for team and player, given Clark’s sterling track record of durability (having logged a 100% snap share in each of the past three seasons) and his contract status. The Jets will need to rely heavily on Amos and their other safety options in 2023, a season in which expectations are high for their defense in particular and the team in general.

JUNE 13: The Jets’ Adrian Amos acquisition makes a bit more sense now. Chuck Clark suffered a knee injury, one Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic reports is feared to be serious (Twitter link).

Clark plans to seek a second opinion, per SNY’s Connor Hughes adds (via Twitter), but this is obviously a concerning situation. The team was not in on Amos until recently, with the Ravens leading the way for a while. Although Amos made a second Ravens visit Monday, the Jets came in with a stronger offer. That proposal may soon lead to a starting opportunity.

The Jets are concerned this is a season-nullifying injury, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson reports (on Twitter), noting ACL damage is feared. An ACL tear would almost definitely knock out Clark, 28, for the season, though it is not known if a tear has occurred. This would represent brutal timing for Clark, who remains attached to the three-year, $15.1MM the Ravens gave him in 2020. That contract expires after the 2023 season. Missing the year would crush Clark’s chances of creating a nice market in 2024.

The chance to start in New York sold Amos over a deal with his hometown team, per Rosenblatt. Amos has worked as a starter throughout his eight-year career. He profiles as a quality replacement option, especially in June, but Clark was expected to play a big role for the Jets.

After the Ravens made two big investments at safety in the spring of 2022 — signing Marcus Williams drafting Kyle Hamilton in Round 1 — Clark emerged in trade rumors. While the Ravens held onto the veteran defender for another season, they pulled the trigger on a deal in March. Baltimore traded Clark to New York for just a 2024 seventh-round pick.

A former sixth-round pick, Clark worked as a primary Ravens starter over the past four seasons. Teaming with a host of big safety additions (Williams, Hamilton, Earl Thomas, Tony Jefferson, Eric Weddle) during his six-year Baltimore career, Clark had been ticketed for a full-time Jets role. The Virginia Tech product voiced frustration about his final stretch in Baltimore but may not begin his Jets tenure on time.

This injury leading to missed time would be a first for Clark, who has missed all of one game during his six-year career. The Ravens used extensive three-safety looks during Clark’s time, and he helped the team as Williams missed much of last season. Clark topped 100 tackles for the first time as a pro last year, totaling 101.

Amos’ arrival offers the Jets some protection. The team rosters Jordan Whitehead, a former Buccaneers Super Bowl starter who started all games for Robert Saleh‘s team last season, in place as its other first-string safety. In Amos, the Jets have a player who started four seasons with the Bears and the past four with the Packers. The 30-year-old defender has made 122 career starts; he has not missed a game since the 2017 season.

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