Breno Giacomini

Jets Notes: Decker, Trades, Revis

Jets wideout Eric Decker recently underwent hip surgery, and the 29-year-old is also awaiting an operation to repair his partially torn rotator cuff. Despite these setbacks, Decker said he wouldn’t miss any games in 2017.

“I’m not worried about missing any time next year,” Decker said on ESPN New York (via Darryl Slater of NJ.com). “I’ll be fine by the start of next year.”

Decker will be on crutches for a few more weeks, and he’ll have his shoulder surgery once he’s recovered from his hip operation. The shoulder should take about eight months to recover, which should line up perfectly with offseason workouts.

“I think they say eight months is kind of the time frame where you’re back to full strength lifting,” Decker said. “But there are a lot of guys that say after six weeks, after eight weeks, they feel pretty good. And then it’s a matter of obviously strengthening the shoulder.”

Let’s check out some more notes from the Gang Green…

Jets Place Breno Giacomini On PUP

The Jets announced that they’ve placed right tackle Breno Giacomini on the PUP list, meaning he will miss a minimum of six games before returning to action.Breno Giacomini (vertical)

Gang Green is reportedly considering adding a free agent tackle, though one option — Will Beatty — recently came off the market when he re-signed with the Giants. Players such as Jake Long or Anthony Davis (who is thought to be available via trade) could also be options. Otherwise, the Jets will likely rely on either Ben Ijalana or Brent Qvale to fill in for Giacomini. Ijalana has seven appearances and zero starts on his resume. Qvale, meanwhile, suited up for all 16 of the Jets’ games in 2015, but the former undrafted free agent only made one start.

With this move, the Jets are now at the league-mandated roster maximum of 53.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Jets Considering Adding Right Tackle

Jets right tackle Breno Giacomini, who has been on the physically unable to perform list since July, admitted Thursday that his lower back strain might keep him out for the beginning of the regular season.

“I don’t know when I’ll be back. I’m probably like 80 percent speed right now. It’s not where I need to be, to be on the field,” Giacomini told reporters, including Darryl Slater of NJ.com.

Breno Giacomini (vertical)[RELATED: Karlos Williams Hopes To Sign With Jets]

Starting the season on the PUP list – which will “probably” happen, according to Giacomini – would cause the 31-year-old to miss the Jets’ first six games. Like Giacomini, head coach Todd Bowles doesn’t seem optimistic about the 6-foot-7, 318-pounder’s status.

“It’s getting close [to Week 1], and he’s not practicing yet, so we’ll see. Unless he’s practicing, he’s not better. He can’t practice,” said Bowles.

As a result, Bowles acknowledged that the Jets “have talked about” adding outside help (via Connor Hughes of NJ.com). The problem, as Hughes notes, is the lack of intriguing options available.

The rival Giants were making a push to acquire the 49ers’ Anthony Davis earlier this month, but San Francisco didn’t feel inclined to move him then and it’s unclear if that has changed in recent weeks. Will Beatty, a former Giant, and Jake Long represent the two most established free agents on the market. Beatty, who worked out for the Panthers last week, missed all of last season after tearing his pectoral. Long, the No. 1 pick in the 2008 draft, has appeared in just 11 games over the past two years. He partook in four contests with the Falcons last season, though he didn’t garner any starts and has since seen a deal with the Ravens fall through after declining to sign an injury waiver.

If the Jets aren’t comfortable with Beatty, Long or any other free agents (Khalif Barnes and Jamon Meredith are a couple more possibilities), they could wait for a potentially more enticing tackle to hit waivers. Otherwise, either Ben Ijalana or Brent Qvale would fill in for Giacomini. Ijalana has seven appearances and zero starts on his resume. Qvale, meanwhile, suited up for all 16 of the Jets’ games in 2015, but the former undrafted free agent only made one start. Giacomini has started all 32 of the Jets’ contests at right tackle since 2014 and previously started in 33 of 41 appearances with the Seahawks.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

AFC East Notes: Richardson, Giacomini, Dolphins

Yesterday, Jets defensive end Sheldon Richardson was suspended one game for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy. After having previously been arrested for driving 143 mph, the 25-year-old was actually grateful that he didn’t earn a longer suspension.

“So the league has sent down there decision,” Richardson wrote on Instagram, “I have to live with it I’m grateful it could have been more but this is overspill from a silly offseason on my part but I’ve grown from it been pass it….I’m still smiling like its draft day.”

Fortunately, as RosterResource.com shows, the Jets should have enough depth on the defensive line to make up for Richardson’s one-game absence. Of course, there’s still lingering concern over the status of fellow d-lineman Muhammad Wilkerson.

While we await some clarity on that situation, let’s check out some more notes from the AFC East…

  • This upcoming season could be right tackle Breno Giacomini‘s final year with the Jets, writes Brian Costello of the New York Post. The lineman didn’t have a strong 2015 campaign, and the writer sees little reason why the 30-year-old will improve in 2016. The organization could save $4.5MM against the cap by cutting Giacomini following the season.
  • The Dolphins added plenty of reinforcement to the offensive line this past offseason. The team selected Laremy Tunsil in the first round, and they also added free agents Jermon Bushrod, Kraig Urbik and Sam Young. With this newfound depth, Mike Pouncey is expecting a bounceback season from the unit. “Obviously, we feel like we got a lot of talent on [the] offensive line,” Pouncey told ESPN.com’s James Walker. “We feel comfortable about the guys that we got in our room. This will be one of the first years in a long time we’ll have depth going into the season. As long as everyone stays healthy, we look forward to having a good year.”
  • Speaking of Tunsil, ESPN.com’s AFC East reporters explain how the first-round pick could ultimately help Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill.

Pauline’s Latest: Jets, Titans, Conklin, Giants

Most NFL people that Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net (via WalterFootball.com) has spoken with tell him that the Jets could still look to take an offensive tackle in the first round even after trading for Ryan Clady. With that in mind, the Jets are bringing Jason Spriggs of Indiana to Florham Park, New Jersey for an official visit on Thursday.

Many view Spriggs as the best pure left tackle in the draft outside of Ole Miss star Laremy Tunsil. Spriggs has been rising on draft boards around the league and the Hoosiers senior has already visited the Broncos and Saints and worked out for the Titans and Ravens.

Here’s the latest from Pauline:

  • Recently, it was reported that the Titans would consider trading down from No. 1 to select Notre Dame’s Ronnie Stanley. Pauline hears that Michigan State’s Jack Conklin is also in the conversation if the Titans move down. Pauline previously ID’d Conklin as a possible Top 12 pick in this year’s draft.
  • The Giants continue to show strong interest in Laquon Treadwell, who is in the conversation at No. 10 overall, Pauline hears. Pauline also adds that several teams do not agree with the assertion that Treadwell is only the second-best wide receiver in this year’s class. While some reports would indicate that the Ole Miss product is slipping down draft boards, that might not be the case.
  • Speaking of the Jets, Pauline hears that they are very high on tackle Brent Qvale, a UDFA they added in 2014. However, Pauline gets the sense that the Clady signing means that Gang Green does not see him as being quite yet ready for a starting role. Qvale lined up at both left and right tackle during weekly practice in 2015. Sources tell Pauline that Qvale is likely to replace Breno Giacomini in 2017 if he continues to progress.
  • Western Kentucky tight end George Fant is garnering attention from NFL scouts, Pauline writes. Fant, a former WKU basketball player, has also received consideration at offensive tackle, but scouts believe that he should be a tight end because of his soft hands. If Fant drops some additional weight (currently 296 pounds), the belief is that he can make it work at TE. Fant has (or has had) workouts with a number of teams including the Bengals, Broncos, Cardinals, ChargersSaints, and Seahawks. While Fant is apparently rising up draft boards, fellow Western Kentucky tight end Tyler Higbee is seeing his stock fall due to an off-the-field incident.

Free Agent Rumors: Browns, Harrison, Titans

The Browns have had a knack for stealing headlines in recent years, but that trend could come to a halt this offseason. New Browns executive vice president Sashi Brown is not looking to make a splash in free agency, various agents tell Aditi Kinkhabwala of NFL.com (on Twitter). The Browns already lost out on one significant free agent target today when Marvin Jones signed a lucrative deal with the Lions.

Here are the latest free agent rumors:

  • There’s nothing brewing right now between the Titans and free agent defensive tackle Damon Harrison, Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com tweets.
  • Safety Tashaun Gipson is a longshot for the Eagles but it’s not out of the question, Geoff Mosher of 97.5 The Fanatic (on Twitter) hears.
  • The Seahawks are working to bring back Brandon Mebane, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
  • The Rams are in good position to bring back linebacker/safety Mark Barron, a league source tells Vincent Bonsignore of the Daily News (on Twitter).
  • The Jets are sniffing around the free agent tackle market and that could spell the end of Breno Giacomini in New York, Alex Marvez of FOX Sports tweets.

Jets To Sign Breno Giacomini

FRIDAY, 3:33pm: Giacomini’s four-year contract is worth $18MM, with $7MM fully guaranteed, tweets Tom Pelissero of USA Today, adding that the deal includes escalators based on playing time and Pro Bowl berths.

THURSDAY, 6:37pm: Giacomini’s contract is a four-year deal, reports Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News (via Twitter).

WEDNESDAY, 7:47pm: The Jets announced that they have agreed to terms with tackle Breno Giacomini. Details of the deal have not yet been released.

Randy Lange of NewYorkJets.com detailed the lineman’s career. It’s been a long journey for the 28-year-old, who was drafted in the fifth-round by the Packers in 2008 and appeared in only one game during his first three years in the league. He was acquired by the Seahawks from the Packers’ practice squad in 2010, was released and subsequently re-signed before the 2011 season.

That year, Giacomini played in 15 games, starting the final seven. He started all 18 games, including the playoffs, in 2012 before appearing in 12 games this past season. He missed seven games in the middle of the season rehabbing from knee surgery. A little more than a month ago, Giacomini was starting at right tackle for the Super Bowl Champion Seahawks.

John Idzik, the Jets general manager, was in the Seahawks’ front office when they acquired the tackle from the Packers in 2010.

Jets Rumors: Giacomini, Schaub, RBs, Howard

With Austin Howard headed to Oakland, the Jets are making a “strong push” to sign offensive tackle Breno Giacomini, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter, who reports (via Twitter) that the free agent tackle will visit with the team on Wednesday. Here’s more on the AFC’s New York squad:

  • While it may seem logical to link the Jets to Matt Schaub, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com suggests (via Twitter) that New York is unlikely to seriously pursue or sign the Texans signal-caller if and when he’s released.
  • The Jets’ 2013 signing of Mike Goodson didn’t pan out, but the team is “nosing around” the free agent market for running backs again this year, tweets Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports.
  • According to Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com (via Twitter), the difference between the Jets’ offer and Howard’s asking price wasn’t that significant. Cimini hears from a source that it was a case of GM John Idzik drawing a line in the sand.