After a Wednesday workout, Laurent Duvernay-Tardif is coming back to New York. The veteran guard took a second NFL hiatus to pursue his medical career, but Ian Rapoport of NFL.com notes he is signing with the Jets for another go-round.
Duvernay-Tardif, 31, has spent most of his career with the Chiefs. He finished last season with the Jets, following a trade, but left football for a second time this offseason. The former sixth-round pick, who was the first player to exercise his COVID-19 opt-out right in 2020, will return to a Jets team that has seen some offensive line injuries change its plans this season.
An ACL tear shut down Elijah Vera-Tucker for the season. Drafted in the first round to play guard, Vera-Tucker had been working at tackle after the Jets experienced rampant health issues at that position. The player tabbed to take over inside for the second-year blocker, Nate Herbig, is now battling an injury as well. A shin issue sidelined Herbig at the Jets’ Wednesday practice.
This is a practice squad agreement, one that comes weeks after the Jets added Mike Remmers on a P-squad deal. Remmers moved up to Gang Green’s active roster soon. Duvernay-Tardif should be expected to follow suit. The Canadian lineman/doctor has been a regular starter in all but one season of his career.
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