DENNIS WASZAK Jr.
AP Sports Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Jets signed cornerback Phillip Adams, adding depth to their thin secondary, re-signed linebacker A.J. Edds and claimed speedy wide receiver Walter Powell off waivers from Arizona.
In a flurry of moves Monday, the Jets also released special teams ace Ellis Lankster and a pair of draft picks — linebacker Jeremiah George and wide receiver Quincy Enunwa — to make room on the 53-man roster. They also signed cornerback LeQuan Lewis to the practice squad.
Adams, a 2010 seventh-round draft pick by San Francisco out of South Carolina State, spent the summer with Seattle — his second stint with the Seahawks — and was released Saturday. He has 66 total tackles and three interceptions in parts of four seasons with the 49ers, Patriots, Seahawks and Raiders.
Lewis was released Sunday after the Jets claimed cornerback Leon McFadden off waivers from Cleveland.
“We feel good about the two young men that we picked up,” coach Rex Ryan said of Adams and McFadden. “We have a history with them. Albeit, obviously, John (Idzik) with Adams in Seattle. Then, Mike Pettine & Co. in Cleveland with Leon McFadden. So we are familiar with those two new guys, as well.”
Edds spent training camp with the Jets and had a terrific summer before being among the team’s final cuts. He provides depth at inside linebacker behind David Harris and Demario Davis.
Powell was a sixth-rounder by the Cardinals out of Murray State in May, and had six catches for 106 yards in the preseason. He was also Arizona’s top kick returner this summer, averaging 25.7 yards on seven returns.
The move to cut ties with Lankster was a bit of a surprise since he was a key contributor on special teams and was a primary backup in the secondary. He played the last three years with the Jets after being a seventh-round pick by Buffalo in 2009.
George was a fifth-round pick from Iowa State, and Enunwa was a sixth-rounder out of Nebraska.
Linebacker Tim Fugger, sidelined with a knee injury, was also waived from the injured reserve list, according to the NFL’s transaction wire.
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