Jets coach Aaron Glenn sounded thrilled about adding defensive tackle Harrison Phillips in a trade with the Vikings this week.
“First off, he’s one of us,” Glenn said after Friday’s preseason loss to the Eagles. “His mentality, the character, and I’m talking about on and off the field. He’s a damn good run stopper. I remember going against him all those years I was in Detroit. Actually, when he was a free agent, he was a guy we tried to target for us to get ready to sign, but obviously he ended signing up back with Minnesota. But everything about him fits who we are, so I’m happy that we got him.”
The Jets traded two sixth-round picks to Minnesota in exchange for Phillips and a seventh-round pick.
The Jets had a clear weakness in their run defense.
They addressed it with Phillips and a separate trade with the Browns for defensive tackle Jowon Briggs.
“I think [GM Darren Mougey] did a hell of a job of identifying guys that fit us and that’s what we’re all about,” Glenn said. “This is not a done deal for us. We’re always looking across the league for guys that fit us, and those two were really good upgrades for us.”
Glenn was asked about whether players can make a case for a roster spot in the final preseason game.
He mentioned undrafted rookie Jamaal Pritchett unprompted, a sign that perhaps Pritchett has earned a roster spot.
The rookie from South Alabama had four catches for 54 yards and had a 41-yard punt return after fumbling an earlier one.
“There are a ton of times in that last preseason game, guys really just stand out,” Glenn said. “Pritchett, he’s one of those guys. I can’t say that he’s a lock, but I’ll tell you what, he put himself in a position for us to really look at him and see where he fits.”
The Jets began cutting their roster to 53 players by waiving these six players on Saturday: CB Mario Goodrich, OT Samuel Jackson, TE Neal Johnson, WR Dymere Miller, DT Fatorma Mulbah and WR Ontaria Wilson.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
