Jets Signed an experience Central Back to Practice Squad who saw him fit.
Green & White Release CB Kalon Barnes
The Jets have signed FB Nick Bawden to the practice squad and released CB Kalon Barnes.
Bawden (6-2, 245), who was released Wednesday, has played in 14 games this season. He has 2 rushes, one which went for a touchdown, and 2 receptions (13 yards) on 104 offensive snaps. He’s also taken 266 snaps on special teams (68%). Bawden re-signed with the Jets in March after he spent last season on injured reserve. He was originally drafted by the Lions in the seventh-round pick in 2018 out of San Diego State. He’s played in 33 career games and has taken 285 snaps on offense as well as 613 on special teams.
Barnes (6-0, 186), who was drafted by the Panthers in the seventh round (No. 242) in 2022, signed with the Jets practice squad on Oct. 3. He also spent stints with the Dolphins (2022), Vikings (2022) and Steelers (2023). In 2022, he made the only game appearances of his career playing special teams snaps in two games for the Vikings.
The New York Jets are facing intense scrutiny in the wake of a difficult 2023 season. Their initial hopes of Aaron Rodgers leading them to success were dashed after just four offensive snaps, leaving the team in disarray.
In Rodgers’ absence, the Jets experimented with Zach Wilson, Tim Boyle, and Trevor Siemian, yet none of them managed to fill the void effectively. Compounded by a season-long struggle with injuries on the offensive line, the team faced challenges as expected.
The spotlight, however, has shifted to head coach Robert Saleh, with growing uncertainty about his ability for the job. While some anticipated a collective pass for the 2023 season due to Rodgers’ injury, questions linger about whether individuals like Saleh should be exempt.
Saleh’s coaching tenure has been marred by embarrassing losses, despite having an elite defense. The Jets find themselves at the receiving end of the most blowout defeats in the NFL this season. Considering the struggles of other offenses and the injuries endured by rival teams, Saleh’s leadership is under scrutiny.
If the Jets contemplate a coaching change, it necessitates securing a replacement seen as a definite upgrade.
ESPN radio host Jake Asman advocates for Mike Tomlin, the current head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, as the ideal candidate. While Tomlin’s availability remains uncertain amid the Steelers’ playoff contention, recent developments suggest a potential shakeup in Pittsburgh could be possible. It’s unlikely, but not impossible.
“If Tomlin is available, Woody Johnson needs to write a blank check. Plus, he has a strong relationship with Aaron Rodgers according to Rodgers himself so he would be on board.”
Should the Steelers part ways with Tomlin, Asman proposes that the Jets prioritize pursuing him. Tomlin, with a Super Bowl victory to his name, is an established head coach entering his 17th year in Pittsburgh without a season below .500— an impressive record for a coach in any sport.
Although parting ways with a coach of Tomlin’s caliber would be an extremely difficult and unlikely choice for the Steelers, Asman contends that the Jets should aggressively pursue him if the opportunity arises. Tomlin’s track record suggests he could swiftly address the team’s shortcomings under Saleh and provide the stability and expertise needed for a turnaround.
Will the Jets make a coaching change? We’ll have to wait and see. But, getting Tomlin would be a massive step towards a Super Bowl for New York.
