C.J. Uzomah will not play out the final year of his Jets contract. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports that the veteran tight end is expected to be released.
Uzomah was set to carry a cap hit of $11.22M in 2024. By releasing him now, the Jets will see $5.3M in savings while creating $5.92M in dead cap charges. Given the financial benefits and the knee injury that ended his 2023 campaign prematurely, Uzomah’s release comes as little surprise.
The 31-year-old finished the season on IR due to MCL and meniscus damage. Even on the field, though, Uzomah could not match the production he delivered in his best Bengals campaigns. Across 27 games with New York, he totaled 290 yards and three touchdowns. Expectations were higher after he joined the team on a three-year, $24M deal in 2022.
During his seven-year Cincinnati run, the former fifth-rounder saw fluctuating usage in the passing game. He remained a key member of the offense concerning playing time for much of that span, though, and he twice recorded 40-plus catches and over 400 yards as a Bengal. Those past showings could help his market as a complementary target for his new team, although his health and underwhelming Jets showing could give potential suitors pause.
Tuesday’s move will leave the Jets with roughly $26M in cap space as free agency draws nearer. New York will move forward with Tyler Conklin and Jeremy Ruckert atop the tight-end depth chart; those two are under contract for one and two more years, respectively. The team could be in the market for an addition at the position either in free agency or the draft to replace Uzomah, who will now turn his attention to the search for a new opportunity.
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