Zonovan Knight, Tim Boyle among notable names released by Jets on cutdown day

6-7 minutes 8/29/2023 Tuesday was cutdown day in the NFL for all 32 teams. By 4 p. m.

, teams had to trim their rosters from 90 players to 53, with the regular season beginning next week. This year, the NFL only had one cutdown day after the preseason. Last season, there were two cuts that allowed teams to gradually get their rosters down to 53 players.

Despite being in his third season as the Jets coach, Robert Saleh said this day never gets easier. “It’s always difficult,” Saleh said. “Whether you think a young man is quality or not.

I will say this, there’s way fewer guys that you’re looking in the eye, knowing that it’s over for them. “I just felt like every guy that I’ve spoken to, I just know they’re going to be on a roster somewhere, someone’s practice squad, either ours or someone else’s. Their career is not over and it’s really cool because we’ve worked hard and brought in really cool young men and they’ve represented the right way.

” With the Jets’ high expectations, only a few notable names were released on Tuesday. Among the most significant was a running back and quarterback. Zonovan “Bam” Knight was among the 37 players who were either waived or released on Tuesday.

Last season, Knight initially made the final roster before being placed on the practice squad. Then, after Breece Hall suffered a season-ending ACL injury, Knight became the Jets’ best running back late last year. Knight rushed for 300 yards and a touchdown on 85 carries.

He was thought to be close to a lock to make the final roster this year until the Jets signed Dalvin Cook earlier this month. With Hall, Michael Carter and Israel Abanikanda entrenched on the Jets roster, Knight became the odd man out. What also didn’t help Knight’s cause was his disappointing preseason, including his performance against the Buccaneers in the third preseason game.

Knight fumbled the ball, dropped a pass and made a mistake running the ball out of the end zone on special teams. The Jets could sign Knight to their practice squad, but NFL Network has reported that teams inquired with the Jets about Knight’s status before he was waived. So there’s a possibility that Knight could be claimed off waivers since he is a player who has less than four years of service.

Players who have played for over four years become free agents when they’re released and are free to sign with any team. Backup quarterback Tim Boyle was also released as the Jets will keep just two quarterbacks on the roster (Aaron Rodgers and Zach Wilson). Gang Green signed Boyle on April 6 to compete with Wilson for the backup role.

However, Wilson outplayed Boyle throughout the preseason, which is likely why the Jets decided to release him. The Jets could eventually sign Boyle to their practice squad, which can have up to 16 players. This is assuming no other team wants to sign Boyle to their active roster.

Outside of Knight and Boyle being released, the most surprising news from Jets cutdown day was punter Thomas Morstead getting released and the team keeping seven receivers on their roster. Considering the Jets don’t have another punter on their roster, Morstead will likely be brought back to the team in a few days. If a team places a player on injured reserve prior to roster cutdowns, that player is out for the entire season.

To get around that rule, teams will keep a player on their initial 53-man roster and later place them on injured reserve so they can possibly return after four weeks. Once the Jets make a few more roster moves, they can then re-sign Morstead. In addition to Garrett Wilson, Allen Lazard, Mecole Hardman, and Randall Cobb, Jason Brownlee, Xavier Gipson, and Irv Charles also made the final roster.

Following Corey Davis’ sudden retirement, it was unclear how many receivers would make the roster. The Jets still could make roster moves to trim their receiver room a bit. Brownlee was signed as an undrafted free agent out of Southern Miss.

The Jets considered selecting Brownlee in the later rounds of the 2022 NFL Draft but were still able to sign him. Throughout training camp, Brownlee made more than a few eye-opening plays during practices. Gipson, who was also an undrafted free agent out of Stephen F.

Austin, impressed during the preseason as he recorded seven catches for 79 yards. He also had a few standout special teams returns, including his 45-yard return in the Hall of Fame Game against the Browns. Gipson found out he made the team when he received a call from Saleh.

The coach tricked him into believing he would get released. But Saleh eventually told Gipson that he had made the Jets roster. “It means everything,” Gipson said.

“It’s all I ever wanted as a kid growing up. “I’ve been working hard my whole life, trying to get to this moment and it finally came. ” .

Antwan Staley
·
Filed 08.30.2023

Latest Player Notes

How a Wisconsin legend got his German protégé into Badgers pro day

Mar 15, 2024 Marlon Werthmann put his life on hold for the opportunity in front of him Friday at the McClain Center.Werthmann ...

Why former Wisconsin football running back Braelon Allen didn't run the 40 at pro day

Mar 15, 2024 Braelon Allen’s sweat covered his shirt and dripped off his beard as he approached a group of reporters Friday.The ...

How can UW recruit its best class ever? It starts with these five prospects

By Andy Yamashita Seattle Times staff reporter Jedd Fisch has lofty recruiting goals at Washington. He didn’t waste any ...

Texas football kicks off spring practice Tuesday. We answer 24 questions for the 2024 team

Things certainly look fresh for the 2024 college football season, especially on the Texas campus.There’s a new conference ...

College Football Playoff: Conferences solve their differences (for now) and agree on general framework for 2026 and beyond

The FBS conferences and Notre Dame agreed on Friday to continue the College Football Playoff beyond the 2025 season, signing ...

Ball security, leadership key as Aztecs look to identify starting quarterback

San Diego State seemingly auditions a new starting quarterback on an annual basis.In the past 12 years, the Aztecs have opened ...

Results and more: A look at what happened at Penn State football’s Pro Day inside Holuba Hall

Most of those at Penn State’s Pro Day Friday were relatively quiet throughout the afternoon’s workouts, but there was one ...

Defense dominates first two weeks of Oregon State spring practice as Beavers ready for 2-week breather

CORVALLIS – Oregon State hit the break of spring practices Saturday, not exactly the midpoint but a good place to assess ...

Dillon Gabriel to have similar input, autonomy as Bo Nix had in Oregon’s offense

Published Mar. 16, 2024, 6:26 p.m.By James CrepeaEUGENE — Dillon Gabriel will have much of the same autonomy as Bo Nix did ...

Two transfers, one underclassman who impressed in Missouri football's spring game

With that, spring camp’s a wrap.Missouri football held its Black & Gold spring game Saturday in front of a healthy crowd ...
See More Player Notes