Jets send CB Dexter McDougle to Eagles for safety Terrence Brooks
New York Jets cornerback Dexter McDougle tackles Detroit Lions wide receiver Jace Billingsley during the second half of an NFL preseason football game. Aug. 19, 2017. Credit: AP / Paul Sancya
One of the final remnants of the John Idzik era packed his bags for Philadelphia on Sunday as the Jets traded cornerback Dexter McDougle for Eagles safety Terrence Brooks.
McDougle was picked in the third round of the 2014 draft but never took off, injuring his ACL before what would have been his rookie year. He was waived in September of last year and signed to the practice squad. In limited time, he had seven tackles and one pass deflection.
The move bolsters a top-heavy position for the Jets. Though the team has high hopes for rookie safeties Jamal Adams and Marcus Maye, there’s little reliable depth beyond that. The precarious situation was exposed in Saturday night’s preseason game against the Giants when Adams broke up a pass to Evan Engram in the end zone and went down hard. He stayed down for a tick before walking off under his own power.
Brooks takes the spot of Doug Middleton (torn pectoral muscle) and looks to get more playing time than he would have this year with the Eagles, with whom he played 11 games last year. Picked by the Ravens — also in the third round of the 2014 draft, a spot ahead of McDougle — he has 34 NFL games on his resume, with 22 solo tackles, an interception and two forced fumbles.
Receivers catching on
Though the Jets’ wide receiver picture is hardly what anyone would call ideal, they got good news from wide receivers ArDarius Stewart and Chad Hansen in their 32-31 loss to the Giants. Stewart grabbed five passes for 82 yards, making two touchdown receptions, and Hansen caught two passes for 45 yards, creating the possibility that the two can contribute in the regular season.
Hansen was hobbled by hamstring and knee injuries during the offseason and OTAs. “I feel full speed,” he said, adding that he started feeling fully comfortable a few weeks ago. “I think a lot of that [comfort] came with maturity and the offense and understanding what I need to do. I think once that clicked, I started trusting myself physically.”
Laura Albanese is a reporter, feature writer and columnist covering local professional sports teams; she began at Newsday in 2007 as an intern.
