Jets pick up running back Alex Green off waivers
Green Bay Packers' Alex Green walks off the field after a game against the Arizona Cardinals at Lambeau Field. (Aug. 9, 2013) Credit: AP
The Jets, in need of impact players at almost all of the offensive skill positions, hope they found help at running back on the waiver wire Sunday.
The Jets claimed running back Alex Green off waivers from the Green Bay Packers, who had cut him a day earlier to trim their roster to the league-mandated 53.
With one week left before the Jets' season opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the addition of Green -- the Packers' leading rusher last season -- adds much-needed depth to their current running back corps of Bilal Powell and Chris Ivory.
A third-round pick of the Packers in 2011 out of Hawaii, Green took advantage of his playing time last season, rushing for 464 yards on 135 carries to go along with 125 receiving yards on 18 catches. But he became expendable because of the Packers' investment in talented rookie Eddie Lacy.
Enter the Jets, whose running game has been in flux ever since their big offseason signing, Mike Goodson, was arrested in May and charged with possession of marijuana and a handgun.
Inked to a three-year deal worth $6.9 million in March, Goodson has been out of commission for almost all of the preseason. Last week, he received a four-game suspension from the league for violating its substance-abuse policy.
To make room for Green on their 53-man roster, the Jets cut running back Kahlil Bell, who had led them in rushing this preseason with 114 yards and four touchdowns and who less than 24 hours earlier figured to have made the team as their third back.
In addition to claiming Green, the Jets were awarded tackle Ben Ijalana from Indianapolis and linebacker Scott Solomon from Tennessee off the waiver wire.
Ijalana, born in New Brunswick, N.J., was a second-round pick of the Colts in 2011. He has been limited to four games in two seasons after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee both years. The Colts had said Ijalana also underwent hip surgery twice two offseasons ago.
Solomon played 13 games as a rookie for the Titans last year and had four tackles.
To make room on their roster for Ijalana and Solomon, the Jets cut linebacker Danny Lansanah and placed linebacker Josh Mauga on injured reserve.
The Jets also announced their additions to the practice squad: center Dalton Freeman, wide receiver Michael Campbell, linebacker Troy Davis, defensive tackle Tevita Finau, safety Rontez Miles, tight end Chris Pantale and tackle J.B. Shugarts.
