The New York Jets are taking a chance on a 2022 fourth-round draft pick who encountered some minor legal issues this past offseason.
The Jets announced the signing of defensive tackle Perrion Winfrey to their Practice Squad. In a corresponding move, the team released defensive lineman Bruce Hector on Tuesday.
Presumably an insurance policy for a defensive line that lost Al Woods for the season to an Achilles rupture, Winfrey flashed ability as a rookie with the Cleveland Browns. The Oklahoma product, who was the No. 198 overall selection at the 2022 NFL Draft, played in 13 regular season games last year. He accounted for 22 tackles, two pass deflections and two quarterback hits.
Winfrey's ensuing offseason troubles, however, eventually led to his release from the Browns in July. The defensive tackle was apparently the subject of criminal investigations in April, June and July.
According to court documents in Harris County, TX, Winfrey was arrested on April 10 for a misdemeanor assault. The charge stemmed from an alleged physical altercation with a woman. USA Today reported that the "case was dismissed after the completion of a pretrial diversion program on June 9."
In a second documented incident on June 5, Winfrey appeared to be a victim of an early morning crime. A police report showed that two Cleveland Browns players were robbed while leaving a nightclub at 3:30 AM ET. ESPN confirmed that the two unnamed players were Winfrey and cornerback Greg Newsome II.
Only three days prior to the Browns reporting for training camp, Winfrey became "a suspect in an aggravated robbery incident." He reportedly violently threatened a woman and flaunted a gun during the ordeal. The Browns released him on July 19.
Hector's stay on the Jets' Practice Squad lasted less than one week. He officially signed on November 1 after spending some time with the Houston Texans. Hector was with the Jets during the 2023 NFL Preseason.
Jets' Practice Squad (Updated Nov. 7)
CB Kalon Barnes
S Trey Dean
OL Jake Hanson
CB Tae Hayes
DL Jalyn Holmes
CB Craig James
TE Zack Kuntz
LB Marcelino McCrary-Ball
WR Lance McCutcheon
OL Xavier Newman
OL Rodger Saffold
QB Trevor Siemian
DL Marquiss Spencer
WR Malik Taylor
RB Xazavian Valladay
DT Perrion Winfrey
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