The Jets have found their Chris Herndon replacement for the first four weeks of the season.
New York agreed to terms with former Houston Texans tight end Ryan Griffin Monday afternoon, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.
Herndon was handed a four-game suspension for a substance abuse policy violation. He pleaded guilty to DUI in June 2018. He will be eligible to return Week 6 against the Dallas Cowboys, as the Jets’ bye is in Week 4.
Griffin was signed due to the lack of options on the Jets depth chart at tight end. New York also has Eric Tomlinson, Trevon Wesco and Daniel Brown.
With the Jets breaking for training camp this week, Griffin supplies the Jets with a pass-catching option at the position. All three other options are primarily blocking tight ends, but the Jets are looking to utilize the position like they have the past two seasons in the passing game. That’s where Griffin comes in.
In 2018, Griffin entered training camp with the Houston Texans as the de facto No. 1 tight end following the retirement of C. J. Fiedorowicz. Griffin was later named the starting tight end to start the season. In 14 games with 11 starts, however, he 24 receptions for 305 yards and no touchdowns.
The Texans released Griffin following his arrest for vandalism and public intoxication during the 2019 NFL draft. Griffin allegedly punched out a window in Nashville after the Texans drafted Kahale Warring, a tight end out of San Diego State, in the third round.
Unhappy with being pushed out the door in Houston, Griffin now has a real chance to start for Gang Green with Herndon sidelined with a suspension.
