Jets Swap Jeremy's In Shakeup Of Backup Wide Receivers

The New York Jets have cut wide receiver/returner Jeremy Ross and claimed wide receiver Jeremy Butler off of waivers.

Butler is a 25 year old, 6' 2", 224 pound wide receiver who played for the Baltimore Ravens in 2015.  Butler was originally signed by the Ravens as an undrafted free agent out of Tennessee-Martin University.  Butler is a big, physical possession receiver without much speed, clocking a 4.6 40 yard dash. At Tennessee-Martin he had a big senior year with 90 receptions for 1203 yards and ten touchdowns.

Butler's only NFL experience came in eight games with the Ravens in 2015, when he had decent production to the tune of 31 receptions on 44 targets for 363 yards, and a 70% catch rate.  Butler was somewhat of a surprise final cut in Ravens camp in 2016 and was signed to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers practice squad.  Tampa Bay subsequently released Butler and the Jets claimed him off of waivers.

The release of Ross would seem to hint at the imminent return of Jalin Marshall to the field, as the Jets are now without an obvious returner.  Whether this is a good thing remains to be seen, as Marshall's proclivity for fumbles may not be just what the doctor ordered for a struggling Jets team.

In any event, Ross is gone and the Jets now have a Butler.  Cutting the returner who made no glaring  errors for the Jets and paving the way for a returner who has repeatedly hurt the Jets is apparently a priority in fixing what ails this team.  Meanwhile players who have played so badly they do not seem to warrant playing time continue to get their large share of snaps.  All part of the accountability program with this Jets team.