/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66486962/1187429809.jpg.0.jpg)
The Jets have released backup safety Blake Countess.
We have released S Blake Countess.
— New York Jets (@nyjets) March 11, 2020
https://t.co/AQHhSL6wCE
Countess was signed by the Jets in October. The Eagles had claimed him off waivers in May when Joe Douglas was still there. Philadelphia waived him in August, and he remained unsigned until the Jets picked him up.
Countess did not appear on defense for the Jets, but he did play 52 special teams snaps over six games in 2019.
There likely was a financial reason behind this move.
Jets clear $1.2 million by cutting reserve safety Blake Countess
— Manish Mehta (@MMehtaNYDN) March 11, 2020
That isn’t much, but it is more than a minimum player would cost. Countess didn’t bring more value to the team than a minimum salaried player.
Every little bit of cap space in free agency helps, and the Jets cleared a little bit here.