Less than a week after falling to the Patriots, the Jets have activated a former New England running back. The team announced today (via Twitter) that it has moved Stevan Ridley from the physically unable to perform list to the active roster, waiving wide receiver Chris Owusu with an injured designation.
Ridley, 26, compiled 340 yards and two touchdowns on 94 rushing attempts last season for the Patriots before suffering an ACL and MCL injury that sidelined him for the rest of the year. The recovery timetable for that injury stretched into the 2015 preseason and the first several weeks of the regular season, prompting the Jets to put Ridley on the PUP list after signing him back in April.
Chris Ivory has been bothered by a minor hamstring injury, but he’s expected to play this week, and has averaged 100 yards per game in his five contests this season. With Bilal Powell sidelined due to an ankle issue, Ridley will likely split backup duties with Zac Stacy.
While Ridley won’t necessarily be counted on to have a significant role in the Jets’ offense, he has a decent track record, having racked up 1,263 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground back in 2012. Fumbling issues reduced his playing time in New England, but the Jets were willing to give him a little guaranteed money – along with $350K in per-game roster bonuses – on his one-year deal, so they’ll certainly use him in the second half of the season.
As for Owusu, he has been bothered by concussion issues throughout his playing career. He’ll revert to the Jets’ injured reserve list, assuming he goes unclaimed on waivers and the team doesn’t work out an injury settlement with him.
Smart moves continue