Jets head coach Rex Ryan and GM John Idzik have their work cut out for them trying to make magic happen with the secondary after losing two starting DBs to injury and cutting a third.
The New York Jets have announced that safety Antonio Allen will be a starting safety for the team in the home opener against the Oakland Raiders on September 7th. Allen, who has was a starting safety and special teams contributor in 2013, saw his first ever action at CB in a preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
The Jets have lost three designated starters at CB during the offseason: Dee Milliner will be out several weeks as he recovers from an injury, rookie Dexter McDougle tore his ACL and is out for the season, and CB Dimitri Patterson was cut after being suspended by the team for leaving the team without telling anyone.
Allen started 9 games at safety in 2013 before the team signed Ed Reed for the remaining seven games of the season. He recorded two TDs – one INT-TD off Tom Brady in a Week 5 game against the Patriots and a blocked punt which he also returned for a TD – as well as a sack and over 40 tackles.
The Jets drafted Allen in the 7th round of the 2012 NFL draft. He is one of only four players from the Jets’ 8-man draft class that is still with the team.
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