The Jets’ offensive line has taken yet another hit, as the club announced today that they’ve placed guard Brian Winters on injured reserve. In addition, linebacker Mike Catapano is also headed to IR, while New York has promoted offensive lineman Donald Hawkins and defensive lineman Brandin Bryant from the practice squad to the active roster.
[RELATED: Jets High On UNC QB Mitch Trubisky]
Four-fifths of the Jets’ projected starting offensive line is now on injured reserve, as left tackle Ryan Clady, right tackle Breno Giacomini, and center Nick Mangold all preceded Winters in being sidelined for the season. Winters, in the midst of his fourth season with New York, had started 13 games on the year, playing on 87% of the club’s snaps while grading out as roughly average (No. 32) among NFL guards, according to Pro Football Focus. Winters’ rookie deal expires at season’s end, so he’ll head to free agency next spring.
Catapano, 26, had started three games for Gang Green this season, but had mostly acted a reserve, playing on slightly less than a quarter of New York’s defensive snaps while adding 110 snaps on special teams. With Catapano out, fellow linebackers Josh Martin, Freddie Bishop, and Randell Johnson (recently signed off the Rams’ practice squad) should see more time as the season concludes.