CB Austin gets cut
The Jets parted ways with one of their projected starting cornerbacks on Wednesday, just 11 days before the season opener.
The team cut Bless Austin, a sixthround pick in 2019 who started 16 games over the past two seasons and was expected to be a starter this year. Coach Robert Saleh said the team would rather go with the young cornerbacks that it drafted.
“Very appreciative towards Bless,” Saleh said. “He’s a good young man.”
Austin is just 25, but the Jets drafted three cornerbacks this year. Michael Carter II and Jason Pinnock were taken in the fifth round. Brandin Echols was taken in the sixth. Carter is competing for the starting slot-corner job. Echols, Pinnock, undrafted rookie Isaiah Dunn and second-year player Javelin Guidry will compete for the role vacated by Austin. Bryce Hall will start on the other side.
➤ DE Shaq Lawson practiced with the Jets for the first time Wednesday. He said he was thrilled to be traded from the Texans to the Jets because of Saleh. “I think my energy matches his energy when I’ve seen him coach the 49ers’ defense the last couple of years,” Lawson said.
➤ The Jets made a series of transactions on Wednesday. They signed TEs Dan Brown and Ryan Griffin, and safety Sharrod Neasman back to the active roster after cutting them on Tuesday. They placed OL Conor McDermott ,LB Jarrad Davis and S Ashtyn Davis on injured reserve. They are eligible to come off after three weeks. In addition to Austin, they waived DE Jabari Zuniga, a 2020 third-round pick, but GM Joe Douglas said the team plans to sign Zuniga to the practice squad as long as he clears waivers. The Jets claimed LB Quincy Williams, who is the brother of Jets star Quinnen Williams, from the Jaguars and DE Timmy Ward from the Chiefs. … The team is also signing safety Sheldrick Redwine, according to his agent Drew Rosenhaus. … WR Jamison Crowder (groin) did not practice Wednesday, but Douglas said the team considers it a minor injury. … Douglas said the team wanted to sign QB James Morgan to the practice squad, but he chose to sign with the Panthers’ practice squad instead. Morgan can now give Carolina intel on the Jets before their Week 1 matchup.