Jets sign cornerback Josh Thomas with Dee Milliner out for season
Carolina Panthers cornerback Josh Thomas (22) runs onto the field during player introductions before a game against the Seattle Seahawks in Charlotte, NC, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2013. Credit: AP / Mike McCarn
With Dee Milliner lost for the season with an Achilles injury, the Jets signed former Seahawks cornerback Josh Thomas.
The Jets placed Milliner on season-ending injured reserve with an Achilles injury.
Thomas, 25, was a fifth-round pick of the Cowboys in 2011 but was waived that year. He played his first three seasons in Carolina before the Seahawks signed him in August. In his career, he has one interception and 10 passes defensed in 42 games.
It's no coincidence that Jets general manager John Idzik zeroed in on Thomas. Idzik, a former Seahawks executive, also signed Seattle castoff Phillip Adams to fill the Jets' cornerback needs. Because of injuries to Milliner and third-round pick Dexter McDougle (ACL), backup Darrin Walls and Adams are the Jets' starting corners.
Milliner, the Jets' ninth overall pick in 2013, suffered the Achilles injury on a special-teams play early in the first quarter of Sunday's 31-17 loss to Denver.
The Jets also announced that guard Brian Winters was placed on IR with a torn ACL suffered in the third quarter of Sunday's game and they claimed offensive lineman Wesley Johnson off waivers from the Steelers.
Wide receiver Greg Salas suffered a right wrist and ankle injury in the loss and Trevor Reilly left the game with a knee injury and did not return.
The slew of injuries comes days before the Jets (1-5) travel to Foxborough to face AFC East rival Patriots (4-2). Even though his team has lost five in a row, Ryan said "you've got no choice" but to shake off their loss to the Broncos with the Patriots looming.
The Jets' depth will be tested with Milliner, Winters and possibly Salas unable to play. Walls, who was questionable for Sunday's game because of a knee injury, was forced to replace Milliner and play opposite Adams. But coach Rex Ryan said he was "happy with the way Walls played" and added that Adams "certainly competes."
