NY Jets news: Jason Brownlee update, Mike Williams injury, Sack Exchange documentary

The NY Jets placed former undrafted free agent Jason Brownlee on waivers this week after the team claimed tight end Brenden Bates off waivers from the Chicago Bears. Brownlee initially made the 53-man roster but was cut the following day to make room for Bates.

The former Southern Miss standout officially cleared waivers on Thursday and is free to sign with any team. That means the Jets might attempt to re-sign him to their practice squad.

The Jets' practice squad is full, meaning that they'd have to cut someone to clear a spot for Brownlee. Brandon Smith and Lance McCutcheon are the two wide receivers currently on the practice squad.

Brownlee has become somewhat of a pet project for the Jets since signing with the team as an undrafted free agent last year. If Brownlee wants to return, he likely should have a spot.

*Update: Jason Brownlee has been re-signed to the Jets' practice squad. The Jets released wide receiver Lance McCutcheon in a corresponding move.

More NY Jets news

Mike Williams will play Week 1

The Jets have maintained that they expect wide receiver Mike Williams to be ready in time for the team's Week 1 matchup with the San Francisco 49ers all offseason, and on Thursday, Jets head coach Robert Saleh officially confirmed that.

Saleh told reporters that Williams is expected to play in Week 1, although he noted that the receiver may be on a bit of a pitch count. Saleh made sure to insist that Williams is not expected to receive a full workload in his first game back.

Williams is still recovering from a torn ACL he suffered in September of last year with the Los Angeles Chargers. The Clemson product has returned to team drills and is on track to appear in the season opener.

That's good news for a Jets wide receiver room that lacks much firepower outside of Garrett Wilson. The Jets are relying on Williams to stay healthy and be an important part of their offense in 2024.

ESPN releasing documentary on the 'Sack Exchange'

ESPN announced on Wednesday that a documentary on the famed Jets' "New York Sack Exchange" has been greenlit for production and is in the works. The documentary will be a part of ESPN's "30 for 30" series.

The film is expected to include a look into “the dynamic and brash quartet of Marty Lyons, Abdul Salaam, Joe Klecko, and Mark Gastineau.” It's being produced by Ken Rodgers (who also produced ’30 for 30′ episodes such as “The Tuck Rule,” “The Two Bills,” “Four Falls of Buffalo”) and James Weiner (best known for his outstanding work with ‘SEC Storied).

Of course, the "Sack Exchange" quartet of Klecko, Gastineau, Lyons, and Salaam is widely seen as one of the best defensive lines in NFL history. Klecko and Gastineau, in particular, are two of the best players to ever don the green and white.

Less than two years after Klecko was finally immortalized in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, he and his former teammates will take center stage one more time in ESPN's latest 30 for 30 documentary.