FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) - The New York Jets signed linebacker David Bass on Thursday, adding a veteran pass rusher to Todd Bowles’ defense.
To make room on the roster, the Jets waived linebacker Freddie Bishop.
They also re-signed wide receiver/kick returner Kalif Raymond to the practice squad three days after he was waived following his momentum-turning fumbled punt at Oakland.
Bass was released by Seattle on Tuesday. He was a seventh-round pick in 2013 by Oakland out of Missouri Western State. He has 5½ sacks in his NFL career, which also includes stints with Chicago and Tennessee. Bass has two interceptions, one that he returned for a score, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and 77 tackles.
“He’s a guy we had on the radar,” coach Todd Bowles said. “Obviously, we are always trying to look to better the team. He has some intangibles that we liked, so we brought him in to take a look at him.”
Bowles said the Jets would look at Bass, who practiced Thursday, at both linebacker and defensive end.
Bishop has split time between the Jets’ practice squad and active roster the past two seasons. He was activated late last week and played against the Raiders, but had no tackles.
New York brought back Raymond to give him a second chance after his big blunder last weekend. A few minutes after the Jets cut their deficit to 14-10, Raymond fumbled a punt with 1:50 left in the opening half. The Raiders recovered the fumble at the Jets 4 and scored three plays later. New York never got close again after that, and the Jets waived Raymond the next day.
“He has some tools to develop,” Bowles said. “We don’t think he’s a bad receiver. He has to catch the ball better, obviously, as a punt returner, but he still has good hands. He has something to work with that we like, some things we like about him with his speed and his catch radius as a receiver, so he’s worth bringing back.”
Raymond was claimed off waivers by the Jets on Sept. 3 after he played his rookie season with Denver last year. He served as New York’s primary returner on punts and kickoffs in the first two games, but also mishandled two punts in the opener at Buffalo, although he recovered both fumbles.
“There was nobody more hurt in that locker room than he was after the game,” special teams coordinator Brant Boyer said.
“He’s one of my favorite kids in the building. Works his tail off. I really like the kid, and it was a decision where he had put three balls on the ground and as a returner you can’t do that, so those decisions happen in this business.”
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