The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Jets sign guard Lewis
The New York Jets continued to address their offensive line by agreeing to terms with guard Alex Lewis on a three-year contract.
Lewis was acquired by New York from Baltimore last August and started 12 out of 15 games after taking over at left guard for the injured Kelechi Osemele.
The Jets announced the move Tuesday to bring back the 27-year-old Lewis, but financial terms weren’t immediately disclosed. The New York Daily News reported the deal is worth $18.6 million, with $6 million guaranteed.
The offensive line is a top priority for general manager Joe Douglas this offseason, and he began restructuring the unit by agreeing to terms Monday night with former Seattle tackle George Fant. A person familiar with that deal told The Associated Press it’s a threeyear deal worth up to $30 million. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the contract can’t be signed until Wednesday, when the new league year begins.
Lewis was a fourthround pick of Baltimore in 2016 out of Nebraska. He missed the 2017 season with a shoulder injury suffered during the Ravens’ preseason opener and played in 10 games the following year.
He came to the Jets as a backup, but was pushed into the starting lineup when Osemele injured a shoulder and was ultimately released after having season-ending surgery that wasn’t approved by the team.
Lewis played 764 snaps on offense last season, third-most among offensive linemen behind only starting right tackle Brandon Shell (806) and left tackle Kelvin Beachum (805) — both of whom are scheduled to be unrestricted free agents.
MATAKEVICH TO BILLS
Former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Tyler Matakevich is expected to sign with the Buffalo Bills. Matakevich, a Stratford native who played at St. Joseph High, seventh-round pick of the Steelers in 2016. His deal with the Bills is reportedly for two years and worth up to $9 million.
CALITRO OFFERED BY JAGS
The Jacksonville Jaguars have given contract offers to a pair of restricted free agents, linebacker Austin Calitro, a Danbury native, and receiver Keelan Cole.
Jacksonville tendered Cole a second-round offer and applied an exclusive rights tender on Calitro. Both are expected to sign the deals. Cole will earn $3.259 million next season and Calitro will make $750,000.
The team also released veteran tight end Geoff Swaim, a move that will create $3.73 million in salary cap space. Swaim played in six games last season before ending up on injured reserve with a concussion and an ankle injury.
Cole has 104 receptions for 1,600 yards and seven touchdowns in three seasons with the Jags. Calitro has played in 29 games with nine starts during three years with the New York Jets, San Francisco, Seattle, Cleveland and Jacksonville.
PIERRE-LOUIS TO REDSKINS
Linebacker Kevin PierreLouis, a Norwalk native who attended the King School, said on social media that he’s joining the Washington Redskins.
Linebacker Thomas Davis says he’s reuniting with former coach Ron Rivera and also signing with the Redskins.
Davis posted on Instagram on Tuesday afternoon that he’d be back with Rivera. Davis played under Rivera with the Carolina Panthers for eight seasons from 2011-2018.
The 36-year-old is going into his 15th NFL season. He spent last year with the Los Angeles Chargers.
Adding Davis gives Washington more linebacker depth.
GIANTS ADD FACKRELL
The New York Giants have added another former Green Bay Packers linebacker.
The team has reached an agreement with Kyler Fackrell on a reported one-year contract.
Fackrell spent the last four seasons in Green Bay, recording 17 1⁄2 sacks as a backup used mostly in passing situations. During some of that that time he worked with Patrick Graham, who was hired as defensive coordinator by new coach Joe Judge. Fackrell had 101⁄2sacks in 2018.
The Giants agreed to terms with former Packers middle linebacker Blake Martinez on Monday. They also reached a deal with Panthers cornerback James Bradberry and franchised defensive tackle Leonard Williams the same day.
WITTEN SIGNS WITH RAIDERS
A person familiar with the deal says veteran tight end Jason Witten has agreed to a one-year contract with the Las Vegas Raiders.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal can’t be signed until the league year starts on Wednesday.
Witten turns 38 in May and will team up with the coach he once replaced in the ‘Monday Night Football’ announcing booth. Witten retired from the NFL following the 2017 season to take a job as an analyst for ESPN after Jon Gruden left the broadcast booth to return to the Raiders.
Witten changed course a year later and returned to the Dallas Cowboys. He had 63 catches for 529 yards and four TDs last season.
Witten has 1,215 catches for 12,977 yards and 72 TDs in 16 seasons with Dallas. He will provide depth behind starter Darren Waller on the Raiders.
EAGLES RELEASE JENKINS
The Eagles released safety standout Malcolm Jenkins, who led their secondary for the last six years and helped them win the 2017 NFL title. Jenkins, 32, had one year left on his contract at $7.6 million. He will cost the team $6 million under the cap, but the Eagles also save nearly $5 million by cutting Jenkins.
NEWTON, PANTHERS MOVING ON
The Panthers are moving on from quarterback Cam Newton.
The team announced they have given the 2015 league MVP permission to seek a trade — although Newton responded by saying he never requested one.
Panthers general manager Marty Hurney said Tuesday via Twitter that “every year difficult decisions are made and they are never easy.” Hurney said the Panthers are working with Newton’s agent to find the best fit for him moving forward.
Newton was quick to respond to the Panthers on social media, saying he didn’t ask for the trade.
Newton advised the Panthers to “stop the word play” and “please do not try and play me or manipulate the narrative and act like I wanted this: You forced me into this.”