The Jets could use some depth at linebacker, so the signing of veteran Troy Reeder to their practice squad is a bigger move than some might realize.
Reeder, who spent six of the first seven years of his career with the Los Angeles Rams, was in camp with Detroit this summer but was released on August 30 when the Lions cut their roster to 53 players.
Reeder, 31, has 38 career NFL starts, so if the Jets need a veteran linebacker to fill in at some point, having this guy on the practice squad is a nice luxury. Starting NFL games is nothing new to him.
Plus, having been in camp with Detroit, he played in a similar defense to the Jets. Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Shephard was a linebacker coach under Aaron Glenn, when the Jets head coach and de facto defensive coordinator was running the Lions’ defense, so he runs a similar system to the Jets’ boss.
Reeder, who played collegiately at Penn State and Delaware, is a highly instinctive linebacker, and since the Jets need to improve their defensive instincts from last year, signing him to the practice squad makes sense.
Reeder can not only provide the Jets a good insurance policy at inside linebacker, but is also known as a very good special teams player, so if he’s ever called up from the practice squad, he can be a core four player as well.
*****
The new issue of Jets Confidential Magazine is a blockbuster Jets fans will not want to miss, loaded with scoops on Gang Green you won’t read anywhere else. To grab a one-year digital subscription for a special price of just $24.95, go to https://simplecirc.com/subscribe/jets-confidential
