Jets Activate Sixth-Round Rookie, Add Former Rams' Receiver
The New York Jets announced personnel moves at defensive back and receiver on Tuesday.
The team activated sixth-round rookie defensive back Jarrick Bernard-Converse onto the 53-man roster while adding second-year pass-catcher Lance McCutcheon to the Practice Squad. To make room for McCutcheon, Gang Green released safety Tyreque Jones from his PS contract.
After being selected No. 204 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft, Bernard-Converse did not practice during training camp and started the regular season on the Reserve/PUP list. Eligible to return following the first four weeks of the season, the Jets opened the rookie's activation window on October 4 as the safety-cornerback hybrid began practicing.
Adding Bernard-Converse to the active roster could be in response to the fact that the Jets entered the bye week with five cornerbacks on the shelf.
Starters Sauce Gardner and D.J. Reed were still in concussion protocol as of Monday, according to head coach Robert Saleh, while slot corner Michael Carter II along with backup cornerbacks Brandin Echols and Justin Hardee are all dealing with hamstring injuries to varying degrees.
Having played both safety and cornerback for Power 5 college programs, Bernard-Converse brings a versatility to the Jets' injury-depleted defensive backfield. Following the Draft, Saleh described the sixth-rounder as someone who "can play all three spots in the backend."
After spending four years competing for Oklahoma State, Bernard-Converse transferred to LSU for his final collegiate campaign. Making 13 appearances (9 starts) for the Tigers in 2022, he produced multiple memorable moments that include picking off a pass against Purdue in the Citrus Bowl. Earlier in the season, the ball hawk powered LSU to an overtime win over Alabama with two tackles, three passes defensed and one red-zone interception.
The 24-year-old McCutcheon, who was released from the Houston Texans' Practice Squad earlier this month, has more NFL regular season experience than Xavier Gipson, Jason Brownlee and Irvin Charles combined.
Undrafted out of Montana State, McCutcheon signed with the Los Angeles Rams in 2022 and subsequently appeared in 10 games. He logged a total of 56 offensive snaps and 110 special teams reps as a rookie.
Jones, a rookie, spent much of the preseason with the Tennessee Titans prior to landing on the Jets' Practice Squad.
Jets' Practice Squad (Updated Oct. 24)
CB Kalon Barnes
S Trey Dean
CB Tae Hayes
CB Craig James
OT Dennis Kelly
TE Zack Kuntz
LB Marcelino McCrary-Ball
WR Lance McCutcheon
OL Xavier Newman
OL Jason Poe
QB Trevor Siemian
DT Tanzel Smart
DE Elerson Smith
DL Marquiss Spencer
WR Malik Taylor
RB Xazavian Valladay
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Two Jets' Defensive Starters 'Still in the Protocol'
Brown's Status Could Mean More Changes for Jets' Offensive Line
