Roster News: Ijalana to IR; Jets sign Gradkowski

by Site Admin

A roster move on the day off:

Maybe Ijalana, who is listed as the second-string left tackle, could be considered as a significant loss, but he was not very good in the first preseason game and the Jets have been giving players like Brent Qvale and Dakota Dozier reps ahead of him so they seem ready to move on.

The 29-year old Ijalana started 13 games in 2016 but they're the only 13 starts of his entire career. Having been released during the offseason, he re-signed on a one-year, $2.5 million deal.

Gradkowski, who is also 29, is a former fourth round pick who started every game at center in 2013 with the Ravens, but has started just four games since then. His most recent action was at center for the Panthers in 2016, where he started three games. He missed last season after suffering a knee injury in training camp.

Gradkowski is perhaps an option for the back-up center role with Jonotthan Harrison and Dozier getting deployed more at guard with Brian Winters on the shelf for the time being.