Jets Place Winters and Catapano on IR

The NY Jets announced the Brian Winters and Mike Catapano have both been placed on IR on Tuesday. This ends a very solid season for Winters, who was a stand out at right guard and should be a priority for the Jets to resign in the off-season. Bowles said it is a rotator cuff injury for Winters and it will most likely require surgery.

The Jets made a number of roster moves Tuesday, placing RG Brian Winters (shoulder) & OLB Mike Catapano (knee) on IR, promoting OL Donald Hawkins & DL Brandin Bryant from the practice squad and filling those vacancies with C Kyle Friend and TE Jason Vander Laan.

The 6’4”, 270-pound Catapano appeared in 11 games this season, starting four contests. The Princeton product, who finished with seven defensive tackles, was primarily used in sub packages and special teams. Catapano, who attended Chaminade HS in Long Island, NY, played three games in 2015 after being promoted from the practice squad on Nov. 21.

Hawkins, who joined the Jets P-squad Nov. 30, was originally signed as an undrafted free agent by Philadelphia in 2014. Since then, the Texas product has spent time with the Browns, the Cowboys, the Dolphins and the 49ers. In college, the 6’4”, 310-pounder started 24 games at left tackle for the Longhorns after transferring from Northwest Community College in Mississippi.

Bryant signed to the Jets practice squad Oct. 24 after the undrafted free agent was cut a final cut of the Seahawks in September. The Florida Atlantic product totaled 13.5 sacks and 130 tackles in college and recorded the most bench press reps at last April’s NFL Scouting Combine by a defensive lineman with 38.

The offensive line is in shambles as the injures continue to pile up. At practice on Wednesday Brent Qvale alternated between guard and tackle. Bowles said that Dakota Dozier, Brent Qvale and Craig Watts could all start at right guard.

Read more about Brian Winters to IR and see what Jets fans are saying in our forums.