Catching up with ex-Jets in the NFC
Now that the season is 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 and offensive players from NFC teams last week and will now move on to look at defensive players on NFC teams. We’ll then review special teamers later this week.
As ever, this list is intended to be exhaustive, but if we missed anyone, let us know in the comments.
Safety Jason Pinnock was a leader in the secondary all year but is now a free agent. He missed one game but started the rest and had 85 tackles and a career high three sacks. He broke up one pass.
Also: Safety Elijah Riley is also a free agent having spent the entire year on injured reserve.
Linebacker Frankie Luvu lived up to his big money deal with the Commanders as he was named as a second-team All Pro. Luvu had 99 tackles and a forced fumble and set career highs with eight sacks and seven pass breakups.
Linebacker Nick Bellore was added mostly for special teams but did play seven defensive snaps and recorded one tackle on defense. It was the first time since 2016 he had played on defense without also playing on offense.
Defensive lineman Jalyn Holmes played five games with the Jets before the Commanders picked him up and he did a solid job with them as he had 14 tackles, two sacks and five tackles for loss in 11 games. In the playoffs, he played three more games, including one in which he started. He added three tackles, including one for a loss.
Bellore and Holmes are pending free agents but Luvu is still under contract for next season.
Also: Safety Sheldrick Redwine was briefly on the practice squad but not retained.
Defensive end Carl Lawson had a bit of a bounce-back as he played in 15 games, starting three. He ended the year with 15 tackles, 15 quarterback hits, five sacks and a forced fumble.
Linebacker Nick Vigil was also added to the main roster and played in 16 games, starting one. He had 14 tackles in 126 snaps on defense.
Also: Cornerback Luq Barcoo was a late-season practice squad addition and, despite not playing, was signed to a futures deal.
Defensive end Bryce Huff was a disappointment and saw his playing time decrease further down the stretch. In the end, he made six starts but had just 2.5 sacks with 13 tackles. He had no stats in two playoff games and could now be a potential cap casualty after having been a healthy scratch in the Super Bowl.
Also: Cornerback Parry Nickerson was added to the practice squad but did not play and wasn’t retained.
Defensive end Jacob Martin missed the first six games while he was on injured reserve, but eventually contributed well with 15 tackles, six quarterback hits, three sacks and a pass defensed in 11 games.
Safety Adrian Colbert was a late season roster addition via the practice squad and made five appearances but did not get any reps on defense.
Defensive back Corey Ballentine was mostly on the roster for special teams but did start one game on defense. He ultimately played 76 defensive snaps in 15 games and had two tackles.
Also: Defensive end Deslin Alexandre was on the practice squad and signed a futures deal despite not seeing action during the season. Cornerback Isaiah Dunn was also a futures signing after the year.
Linebacker Blake Cashman only missed three games and started the rest, racking up career highs in tackles (112), pass breakups (eight), sacks (4.5) and quarterback hits (11). He also added another 11 tackles and a sack in his lone playoff appearance.
The Lions added linebacker Kwon Alexander and safety Jamal Adams, each of whom started two games for them, having already played three games with another team during the season. Adams had three tackles and Alexander had four, but neither was retained.
Safety Jordan Whitehead was productive during his 12 starts with 79 tackles and three passes defensed. He also had no penalties. Whitehead remains under contract for next year.
Cornerback Bryce Hall was on the opening day roster but lasted just 17 snaps before suffering a season-ending ankle injury. He is now a free agent.
Cornerback Lamar Jackson was a late season practice squad addition and signed a futures deal after the season. Safety Dane Cruikshank also spent time on the practice squad but was released in December. Both Jackson and Cruikshank were elevated twice but only played on special teams.
Also: Linebacker Milo Eifler was released from injured reserve.
All Pro linebacker Demario Davis and defensive tackle Nathan Shepherd were full-time starters for the Saints. Davis, who started 16 games, set a career-high with 136 tackles and added seven pass breakups, two sacks and an interception. Shepherd started 13 games and came off the bench in three others. He recorded 37 tackles and 1.5 sacks.
Both Davis and Shepherd remain under contract with the Saints for the 2025 season.
Linebacker Claud Cherelus played in 13 games, including two as a starter. He had 21 tackles on defense and a quarterback hit.
Rookie cornerback Shemar Bartholomew was a healthy scratch for most of the year but saw action at the end of the season. In five games, he had three tackles, two pass breakups and a tackle for loss.
Edge Shaq Lawson played in one game as a practice squad elevation but was ultimately only with the team for two weeks and didn’t record any stats in 14 snaps.
Also: Cornerback Anthony Brown and Justin Hardee were each released, from injured reserve and the practice squad respectively.
The 49ers signed safety Adrian Amos to their practice squad but he lasted just seven weeks with the team. He was elevated once for special teams duties only.
The Rams are the only NFC team that didn’t have any ex-Jets on the defensive side of the ball so far this year.
Defensive lineman Leonard Williams had just 2.5 sacks at the mid-point of the season but then had two or more sacks in four of the last seven games to end up with 11 on the year. That included a game against the Jets where he had two sacks, a pivotal pick-six and a third sack negated by a penalty. He ultimately earned All Pro and Pro Bowl honors as he ended the year with 64 tackles and 28 quarterback hits, along with a career-best three passes defensed.
Linebacker Milo Eifler remains under contract having been signed to the active roster from the practice squad late in the year. He played in two games but only on special teams.
We’ll be back within the next day or two for a look at special teamers.