Catching up with ex-Jets in the NFC
Now that the season is basically over, it’s time to update you on former New York Jets players and how they’ve been faring with their current teams. We looked at players from AFC teams over the past few days and now we move on to review players from NFC teams, starting with offensive players today. We’ll look at defensive players on NFC teams and special teamers over the next week or so.
As ever, this list is intended to be exhaustive, but if we missed anyone, let us know in the comments.
Guard Greg Van Roten was a reliable signing for the Giants as he started every game, including two at center, and led them in offensive snaps. He gave up seven sacks and five penalties but had a solid season overall. He now heads to free agency.
Quarterback Tim Boyle is also a pending free agent after joining the team at the end of the season. He played in one game, during which he completed 12 of 24 passes for 123 yards and a touchdown, but also threw an interception.
Also: Tight end Lawrence Cager and offensive lineman Yodny Cajuste were both released early in the year; from the practice squad and injured reserve respectively.
Wide receiver Jamison Crowder spent most of the year on injured reserve but eventually played in six games, starting one, during the regular season. He had just nine catches for 72 yards but came up big in a late season win over the Eagles as he had two touchdowns including the game-winner. He added three catches for 29 yards in the postseason but is now out of contract.
Also: Tight end Lawrence Cager signed a futures deal at the end of the season.
Offensive lineman Chuma Edoga spent the first half of the year on injured reserve but played a big role down the stretch as he started four games at left tackle. He gave up two sacks and two penalties in 228 snaps but is now a free agent.
Running back Dalvin Cook and offensive lineman Dakoda Shepley were both on the practice squad and saw brief action with Cook racking up 30 yards on nine touches in two games and Shepley elevated three times but only playing 12 offensive snaps. Neither was retained.
Mekhi Becton has been a great story this year and he will start for the 19th time this year in the Super Bowl on Sunday. He had a terrific season, making an impact as a run blocker and only allowing three sacks in the regular season, including none after week four (although he did give up two more in the postseason so far). He also reduced his penalty count from one of the highest in the league in 2023 to just four in the regular season.
Three ex-Jets tight ends were also with the Eagles this year. EJ Jenkins is currently on the active roster having played in eight games. His only catch of the season was also his first career touchdown in the season finale. CJ Uzomah started three times and played in four other games but he wasn’t targeted in 133 snaps and he’s now on injured reserve. The other was Kevin Foelsch who was briefly on the practice squad but is not currently with the team.
Green Bay are one of three NFC teams that didn’t have any ex-Jets players on offense this season.
Quarterback Sam Darnold had a remarkable season this year as he went to the Pro Bowl having posted a quarterback rating of 102.5. Darnold went 14-3 as a starter, completing 66 percent of his passes for over 4,300 yards and 35 touchdowns with just 12 interceptions. He struggled in the season finale against the Lions and the first round playoff exit against the Rams though, with Minnesota scoring nine points in each game. Darnold also rushed for one touchdown.
Offensive lineman Dan Feeney played in eight games off the bench, but only on special teams. He and Darnold are free agents.
Brett Rypien served as the third quarterback for most of the season but never played. He signed a futures deal after the season, though.
The Bears had offensive lineman Chris Glaser on their practice squad and elevated him three times although he only played one offensive snap. They did sign him to a futures deal for 2025, though.
Wide receiver Kalif Raymond is still under contract and he saw his production drop off for the second year in a row as he ended up with 17 catches for 215 yards and two scores, along with a first down rush. He caught another three passes for 37 yards in the playoffs.
One more ex-Jet got into the line-up when Teddy Bridgewater was a surprise late-season addition at quarterback having previously said he was retired. He even completed a pass for a first down in the playoffs. He is a free agent again now though.
The Bucs were another of the teams that didn’t have any ex-Jets on the offensive side of the ball.
Connor McGovern was an emergency signing for the Saints in the middle of the season and he started five games for them at center, doing a pretty decent job. He didn’t give up a sack, but did have three penalties. McGovern did – of course – briefly end up back with the Jets once the Saints’ injury crisis was over, but is currently without a team.
Also: Offensive tackle Austin Deculus was on their practice squad but did not play and ended up in Houston. In addition, running back Xazavian Valladay signed a futures deal.
Carolina signed wide receiver TJ Luther to their practice squad late in the season and then inked him to a futures deal after the season. He was not elevated for a game, though.
Atlanta were the last of the three teams not to have any ex-Jets on the offensive side of the ball.
The Rams had offensive lineman Conor McDermott on injured reserve all year but he was never activated and is now a free agent.
Quarterback Geno Smith failed to make the Pro Bowl this season but actually posted better numbers than last year in many categories. He ended up with a 10-7 record as a starter and set career highs with a completion percentage of 70.4 percent and 4,320 passing yards. However, he threw 15 interceptions to go along with 21 touchdown passes and two touchdown runs.
Seattle also had two former Jets on their starting offensive line; tackle George Fant and guard Laken Tomlinson. However, Fant landed on injured reserve after just two games and never returned. Tomlinson started every week and had a bounce back year, despite giving up six sacks and five penalties. Fant gave up two sacks in just 30 snaps.
Tomlinson is a pending free agent but Smith and Fant are still under contract for 2025.
The Cardinals had two ex-Jets that saw plenty of action on the offensive line despite starting off as reserves, although both are now free agents. Kelvin Beachum started 12 games at right tackle and Trystan Colon started seven at right guard. Beachum played well, although he gave up four sacks and had five penalties. Colon did an excellent job with only one penalty and no sacks allowed.
Wide receiver Greg Dortch will be a pending restricted free agent. He played in every game, starting four, and caught a career-high three touchdown passes. He registered 37 catches for 342 yards and rushed five times for 31 yards.
Running back Michael Carter spent most of the year on the practice squad but got a chance to play late in the season and did a solid job with 131 yards and a touchdown on the ground and 11 catches for 57 yards. He was signed through next season when he was added to the roster.
Also: Running back Zonovan Knight signed a futures deal with Arizona despite ending the 2024 season on the Jets’ practice squad.
Finally, running back Israel Abanikanda was claimed off waivers in December but never saw any action. He remains under contract for 2025.
We’ll be back to look at ex-Jets defensive players on NFC teams in a few days…