Jets Sign RB Joel Bouagnon, LB Jonathan Celestin To Practice Squad

The New York Jets have signed running back Joel Bouagnon and inside linebacker Jonathan Celestin to the practice squad and released safety Tyvis Powell from the practice squad.

Joel Bouagnon, a 23 year old, 6’2”, 228 pound running back out of Northern Illinois University, was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Chicago Bears after the 2017 NFL draft but was waived/injured by the Bears in August 2017. The Green Bay Packers signed Bouagnon to a futures contract in January 2018 and he spent training camp with the Packers in 2018, leading the team in preseason action with 95 yards rushing on 34 carries, before being cut prior to the start of the regular season. Bouagnon spent parts of the 2018 season on the Packers and Lions practice squads.

Joel Bouagnon is a straight ahead, north south power back, with little in the way of elusiveness. He will get the yards blocked, keep his feet churning, move the pile and usually fall forward. What he won’t do is wow you with speed, lateral quickness, vision or creativity. He is not much of a factor in the passing game, but he is good at pass blocking to protect his quarterback. For those who remember the 2005 and 2006 Jets, Bouagnon is a very similar back to Cedric Houston.

Jonathan Celestin, an undersized 23 year old, 6’1”, 232 pound inside linebacker out of the University of Minnesota, was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Atlanta Falcons after the 2018 NFL draft. Celestin was a two year starter at Minnesota. Celestin lacks the speed (4.7 40 time) and athleticism he would need to succeed as an NFL linebacker at his size. He has good instincts and flows reasonably quickly from sideline to sideline, but lacks strength at the point of attack and is easily washed out by blockers. He has some cover ability, but with limited physicality and less than ideal speed Celestin has an uphill road to make it in the NFL. In 2018 preseason action Celestin led the Falcons with 21 tackles while adding 1.5 sacks and three QB hits. He was cut by the Falcons prior to the start of the regular season and spent two weeks on the Los Angeles Chargers practice squad before being released last month.