The New York Jets have signed former Steelers defensive tackle Manny Jones to the practice squad, the team announced on Tuesday. Jones joined the Steelers for training camp, but did not make the final roster. He will give the Jets some needed depth up front with Quinton Jefferson’s injury.
Jones, 24, is in his second NFL season out of Colorado State. He originally signed with the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent last spring, but the Steelers claimed him off waivers on May 16, 2023.
Jones worked in behind a deep group of defensive tackles for the Steelers, playing behind starters Cam Heyward and Larry Ogunjobi and backups Armon Watts and Isaiahh Loudermilk.
In three preseason games, Jones played 58 total snaps of defense, with his most playing time in the opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, when he got 26 reps, according to Pro Football Focus. In three games, Jones did not record a single defensive statistic.
With the Cardinals last fall, Jones played in two games and finished the season with 59 defensive snaps, six combined tackles, and one quarterback pressure.
In his five years at Colorado State, Jones played in 50 games and recorded 181 combined tackles, 33 tackles for loss, 13.5 sacks, one interception, two passes defended, and two forced fumbles.
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