The Jets added an outside linebacker on Monday in the hopes of boosting a pass rush that does not look formidable.
They signed Jeremiah Attaochu, who spent four seasons with the Chargers and was cut this weekend by the 49ers after spending training camp with them. He has 10 career sacks, with six coming in 2015. Jets coach Todd Bowles said Attaochu will have to get up to speed, but he can add to the Jets’ pass-rushing group.
The Jets carried just three outside linebackers — Jordan Jenkins, Josh Martin and Brandon Copeland — on their 53-man roster this weekend.
“Right now, I feel fine,” Bowles said of their pass rush. “We’ve got guys who can do certain things. We’re going to let them do the things they do best.”
To clear the roster spot, the Jets moved running back Elijah McGuire to injured reserve. McGuire broke his foot on the first day of training camp. Since he was on the roster after Saturday, McGuire is eligible to return from IR in Week 9.
Bowles confirmed the Jets were working out kicker Dan Bailey on Monday. The former Cowboys kicker could end up taking the Jets job from Jason Myers, who won the job out of training camp and was kicking for the Jets on Monday in practice.
WR Jermaine Kearse has an abdominal strain and is in jeopardy of missing Monday’s opener in Detroit. But Kearse would shed no light on his situation to reporters.
“You’ve got to talk to coach Bowles,” Kearse said.
Kearse did not practice Monday. Neither did safety Marcus Maye. It is unclear what Maye’s situation is. He missed a portion of training camp and the preseason as he recovered from offseason ankle surgery, but returned at the end of camp. It is unclear if he suffered a setback.
Bowles said he was not surprised to see WR Chad Hansen claimed after the Jets cut him Saturday. The Patriots picked up Hansen, who the Jets selected in the fourth round of the 2017 draft. Bowles said other guys simply made more plays than Hansen this summer.
“I really liked Hansen. He’s a good football player,” Bowles said. “I think he’ll do well up there in New England. We thought we had a few good football players that we let go that were going to get picked up and he did.”
As for the rest of the cuts, Bowles said it was not easy.
“They were tough because we had some good football players,” Bowles said. “We had some guys who had good training camps obviously. It’s not a surprise that they get picked up by other teams because they are good football players. They were tough decisions all the way around.”
Bowles confirmed the Jets had interest in trading with the Raiders for, but lost out in the bidding to the Bears.
“There was interest I’m sure,” Bowles said. “He went to the Bears and that’s that.”
One of the biggest questions on the Jets roster is who do they have to return kicks. They will begin the year with Andre Roberts returning punts and rookie Trenton Cannon returning kicks. But the special teams have been shaky in the preseason.
“They’ve caught the ball,” Bowles said. “Obviously Andre can return punts. Cannon’s gotten better. We’ll just keep working at it and we’ll be ready to play.”
The Jets completed their practice squad Monday with the signings of WR Deontay Burnett, C Nico Falah, RB De’Angelo Henderson, OT Dieugot Joseph, DL Bronson Kaufusi and QB John Wolford. Both Burnett and Falah played with Sam Darnold at USC.