A year after getting cut by the Giants, quarterback Davis Webb was cut by the Jets on Saturday.
Webb, the Giants’ third-round pick in 2017, was among the cuts the Jets made to get their roster down to 53 players. The Jets also cut Luke Falk, meaning they are going into the season with just two quarterbacks on their roster — Sam Darnold and Trevor Siemian.
Webb was a surprise cut by the Giants last year, but the Jets letting him go was not a surprise. He spent last season mainly on the practice squad, but he did see some time on the active roster in the second half of the season. He did not have a good training camp and threw four interceptions in the preseason games, ending any hopes he had of making the roster.
The Jets’ initial cuts had only one major surprise — 2019 third-round pick linebacker Jachai Polite. The rest went pretty much as expected, though there will be more cuts on Sunday as the Jets claim players off waivers who were cut by other teams this weekend.
They are still searching for a kicker, and one interesting name shook free on Saturday. The Vikings cut kicker Kaare Vedvik, who they traded a fifth-round pick to the Ravens for two weeks ago. The Jets had been interested in Vedvik when he was on the Ravens, so he is a possible target. Vedvik went 1-for-4 on field goals in two preseason games for the Vikings.
For now, Taylor Bertolet remains on the roster as the Jets kicker, but it would be surprising if he is the one handling the kicking duties on Sept. 8 when the Jets open the season against the Bills.
The Jets also traded cornerback Parry Nickerson to the Seahawks in exchange for a 2021 conditional draft pick. Nickerson was one of four draft picks by former GM Mike Maccagnan to be sent packing this weekend — along with Polite, running back Elijah McGuire and wide receiver Charone Peake.Another area of need the Jets likely will address is cornerback. They ended up keeping five on the roster — with Trumaine Johnson, Darryl Roberts, Brian Poole, Nate Hairston and Arthur Maulet making it for now. That will be another position that is in flux for the next few days.
Peake was one of two cuts at wide receiver that was mildly surprising. The team also cut Deontay Burnett, who played well last year and had a strong camp. They kept just five receivers, with Josh Bellamy and Greg Dortch as the backups to Robby Anderson, Quincy Enunwa and Jamison Crowder.
Dortch, who is expected to be the team’s punt returner, is one of two undrafted free agents to make the initial 53. They also kept defensive lineman Kyle Phillips, who had a strong game Thursday against the Eagles.
Tight end Eric Tomlinson, who started 29 games over the past three years with the Jets, was also released.