Players leave teams for all sorts of reasons: contract disagreements, fit, production or disciplinary issues. After leaving the Jets, some enjoyed newfound success, while others simply couldn’t find a home. Others finished the season on injured reserve and could have a hard time getting another deal following a bad injury.
Whatever the case may be, these former Jets weren’t part of the future of the organization and moved on play for other clubs. Here’s how 12 ex-Jets fared in the 2018 season.
DE Muhammad Wilkerson
Wilkerson signed a one-year, $5 million contract with the Green Bay Packers after the Jets released him following his seventh season in New York. Wilkerson ended up only playing in three games before suffering a season-ending ankle injury. He recorded five combined tackles in his shortened season and will be looking for another deal as he heads into his ninth season in the NFL.
LB Demario Davis
Davis signed with the New Orleans Saints on a three-year, $24 million contract with $16 million guaranteed following his career year with the Jets. Davis continued to play well in New Orleans, where he led the team with 110 combined tackles, 11 QB hits, five sacks and two forced fumbles. He even earned NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors after his 11-tackle, two-sack performance in Week 4.
TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins
Much like Wilkerson, Seferian-Jenkins’ season was cut short by injury. Five weeks into the 2018 season and months after the tight end signed a two-year, $10 million contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars, ASJ suffered a core muscle and was placed on injured reserve.
He finished the season with 11 receptions for 90 yards and one touchdown.
K Chandler Catanzaro
Catanzaro’s 2018 season was full of ups and downs after he signed a three-year, $9.75 million contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He converted a career-high six extra points against the Saints in Week 1, hit a game-winning 59-yard field goal in Week 7 after missing two previous kicks, and was eventually released by the Bucs after missing two field goals in a Week 10 loss.
Catanzaro ended up finding another home in Carolina, where he hit 12 of 13 kicks. On the season, Catanzaro went 16-20 on field goals and 30-35 on extra points.
QB Teddy Bridgewater
Bridgewater sat behind Drew Brees after the Jets traded him to the Saints for a third round pick this past offseason. Bridgewater only saw the field three times: At the end of Week 5 and Week 9 blowout wins over the Redskins and Bengals, and when he started Week 17 after the Saints had clinched the division and a playoff berth.
In his first two appearances, Bridgewater only attempted one pass (an incompletion) and ended both games with three kneel downs. During his lone start of the season, Bridgewater completed 14-22 passes for 118 yards, one touchdown and one interception with 11 rushing yards.
KR JoJo Natson
Natson probably fared the best of any former Jet on this list, as he had the opportunity to play in Super Bowl LIII after the Rams picked him up for a second time in September. Natson originally signed with the Rams during the 2018 offseason but was waived in late August before being re-signed following a season-ending injury to starting return specialist Pharoh Cooper.
Natson finished the 2018 season with 26 kickoff returns for 280 yards and two punt returns for 11 yards.
The Rest
QB Bryce Petty
With Sam Darnold, Josh McCown and Bridgewater, the Jets had no need for Petty and released him last offseason. The Dolphins subsequently picked him up, but he was waived/injured on Sept. 1, 2018 and released later that month without seeing any game action.
C Wesley Johnson
The former Jets center signed with the Lions during the 2018 offseason, but he was released on Sept. 1. Johnson then signed with the Dolphins on Oct. 1, where he is still currently on the roster despite not seeing the field in 10 games.
LB Bruce Carter
Carter signed with the Falcons on Sept. 25, 2018 after two seasons with the Jets. In 11 games for the Falcons, Carter tallied 21 combined tackles. This offseason, the Falcons decided to extend Carter’s contract by one year following his 2018 campaign.
LB Kony Ealy
Ealy originally signed with the Dallas Cowboys last offseason, but he failed to make an impression and was subsequently released in September. The Raiders then picked up, released and eventually re-signed Ealy over the span of one month. In two games for the Raiders, Ealy wracked up two tackles.
RB Matt Forte
Forte retired on Feb. 28, 2018, after his 10th season in the league and his second season with the Jets. He still had a year left on his three-year contract with the Jets, but New York officially released him in April.
WR Chad Hansen
The Denver Broncos re-signed Hansen to a reserve/future contract after signing him to the team’s practice squad late in the 2018 season. Hansen failed to stay on the Patriots and Titans, two teams who had signed him following his release from the Jets.
