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With the Jets on bye week, it’s a good time to update you on which former Jets players are making their mark on other teams’ rosters. We’ll divide this into two parts, looking at AFC teams today and NFC teams in a few days.
As ever, this list is intended to be exhaustive, but if we missed anyone, let us know in the comments.
Brian Winters has started the last seven games at right guard after having begun the year on the bench. However, he’s been inconsistent with six penalties and three sacks surrendered.
Andre Roberts is having another good year as a return specialist, averaging 30 yards per kick return and 13 yards per punt return. He’s only caught two passes on offense.
Others: Brandin Bryant, Jonotthan Harrison, Darron Lee and Davis Webb are all on the practice squad but haven’t played yet.
Ryan Fitzpatrick did a decent job as the starter but has now been replaced by rookie Tua Tagovailoa. Fitzpatrick had accounted for 12 touchdowns as he completed 70 percent of his passes and posted a quarterback rating of 95.
The versatile Jesse Davis has started eight games at three different positions this season and hasn’t given up a sack, although he’s only posted average grades. He had his first two penalties of the season in week eight.
On Monday, Nick Folk beat the Jets with a 51-yard field goal as time expired. He’s been doing a solid job with just three missed kicks, although he doesn’t kick off.
On defense, Brandon Copeland and Terrence Brooks have started six games between them, albeit in rotational roles. Copeland has been solid against the run but gave up a short touchdown in coverage. Brooks has missed three tackles and been exploited a few times in coverage too. Both have played a lot on special teams, although Copeland has been more effective.
Others: New England is without Quincy Adeboyejo, who is on injured reserve and Matt LaCosse, who opted out before camp. Donte Moncrief was recently added to the practice squad.
The Steelers traded for Avery Williamson a few weeks ago but he hasn’t played for them yet.
Sheldon Richardson has had a solid but unspectacular season so far. He has started every game and racked up 32 tackles, 2.5 sacks, four tackles for loss, four quarterback sacks and two passes defensed.
Jojo Natson is currently on injured reserve. So far he has just one kickoff return for 31 yards, three punt returns for 25 yards and a carry for three yards on offense.
Andrew Sendejo, who had a cup of coffee with the Jets in his rookie season, has started every game and is second on the team with 43 tackles. However, he leads the team with nine missed tackles and has given up some big plays, including three touchdowns, in coverage.
Montrel Meander is on the practice squad but was activated for special teams duties in two games.
Randy Bullock has been one of the league’s most accurate kickers this year with just two missed field goals in 20 attempts. He’s also made all 20 of his extra points. However, he missed a chip shot in closing seconds of the season opener that would have sent that game into overtime.
Marcus Gilchrist was on the practice squad but has now been released. He was elevated to play in two games and saw action on defense and special teams. He ended up with three tackles, but did give up two first downs in coverage.
Others: Nate Hairston is currently on the practice squad but hasn’t played yet.
Anthony Firkser is emerging into a solid tight end as he has already surpassed his career high with 25 catches, racking up 249 yards so far. He had a breakout game against the Texans with eight catches for 113 yards and his only touchdown of the season so far.
Kalif Raymond has been a return specialist in the past but he’s emerging as an occasional big play threat on offense now, too. He has nine catches for 187 yards, including a 61-yarder. On special teams he had a 40-yard punt return but has otherwise put up underwhelming statistics.
Rookie Wyatt Ray was elevated from the practice squad for one game and saw brief action on defense and special teams but didn’t make any significant contributions.
Others: Trevor Siemian is currently on the practice squad but hasn’t played yet.
Safety Ibraheim Campbell is on the practice squad but was on the active roster earlier in the year. He’s seen action in three games, but only on special teams.
Brent Qvale has been on the Texans roster all year but had only seen action on the placekicking unit until last week. He was then called into action at left guard due to an injury and played 49 snaps during which he gave up no pressure. He graded out poorly as a run blocker though. He may start this weekend.
The Texas recently poached Josh McCown from the Eagles’ practice squad to be their backup quarterback but he hasn’t played yet. McCown had been collecting a practice squad paycheck as an emergency option for the Eagles despite isolating away from the team.
Others: Chad Hansen and Brett Maher are on the practice squad but have not played yet.
Doug Middleton is currently on the practice squad but was on the active roster earlier on in the season. He’s seen action in three games, albeit only on special teams, but has contributed with two tackles in kick coverage.
Others: Rookie offensive lineman Jared Hilbers was on the practice squad for a while but has been released.
The Chiefs made a high profile move for Le’Veon Bell and he broke a couple of dynamic runs in his first game. However, he’s come back down to earth since then with just 15 yards on 10 carries in his last two games. He had three catches for 31 yards against the Jets, but his only other catch went for a loss.
Mike Pennel is still a key part of the Chiefs’ defensive line rotation. After serving a suspension in the first two weeks, he started the week four game against New England and racked up 10 tackles. However, he has just six tackles in his other six appearances.
Kelechi Osemele is out for the season after injuring both knees. He had started the first five games and played quite well, although he did commit five penalties.
The Raiders are the only NFL team that hasn’t had a single ex-Jet on their team this year.
Tevaughn Campbell has been on the Chargers’ roster all year and was mostly contributing on special teams for most of the season. However, he’s seen significant action in the slot since Desmond King’s departure and even started last week. He’s had mixed results so far, giving up a long catch to Jerry Jeudy and the last second game winning touchdown to KJ Hamler in week eight.
Troymaine Pope was recently added to the active roster and made an impression against the Broncos in week eight as he rushed for 67 yards on 10 carries and caught five passes for 28 yards. However, he missed the last game with a concussion.
With Pope out, the Chargers elevated Kalen Ballage from their practice squad and he did well too, rushing for 69 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries and adding two catches for 15 yards.
Others: BJ Bello is on the practice squad but hasn’t played yet.
Broncos:
Shelby Harris has developed into one of the Broncos’ best defensive players, but was just placed on the Covid-19 list. In seven games, he has racked up 23 tackles, 2.5 sacks, four tackles for loss, eight quarterback hits, three passes defensed and a forced fumble. He also blocked a field goal.
Jeremiah Attaochu started the first three games of the year but then suffered a quadriceps injury and only returned recently so he’s working his way back into the rotation. He has 10 tackles, a sack, two quarterback hits and two tackles for loss in five games this year.
Offensive lineman Calvin Anderson has been on the active roster for every game so far but has only seen action on special teams.
Austin Calitro, who was acquired via trade before the opening game, spent part of the year on injured reserve and was recently reactivated. He’s only played on special teams in his five games so far with one tackle and two penalties.
We’ll be back with a breakdown of the ex-Jets on NFC teams’ rosters later this week.