Alex

Lewis

The Jets placed Lewis on the exempt/left squad list in August, which signaled that he might be considering retirement. Lewis confirmed that Wednesday. Lewis is just 29 years old, so it’s possible he attempts a comeback in 2022.

Getting placed on the exempt list suggests Lewis, who took a paycut this offseason, is considering retirement. The 29-year-old left practice this week with a head injury. Jets OT George Fant (reserve/COVID-19) was activated to replace Lewis.

Rather than receiving $5.8 million in base salary in 2021, he’ll garner $3 million and eliminate a year of his contract to become a free agent in 2022. Lewis, 29, butted heads with Adam Gase last year but will return as a potential starter at right guard under Robert Saleh.

Lewis has been a healthy scratch the past two weeks. He’ll spend at least the next three games away from the team. Lewis is “seeking help for an off-field issue” after a “heated exchange” with Adam Gase in practice. He won’t return until Week 16 at the earliest. Re-signed to a three-year, $18.6 million deal last offseason, Lewis is under contract through 2022.

The Jets are benching Lewis for the second straight game. Lewis didn’t practice despite not being listed on the injury report. Coach Adam Gase said the decision not to play Lewis is “not disciplinary” and his roster spot “isn’t in jeopardy.” We’ve seen rumors that Lewis got into an argument with Gase in one of the Jets’ practices last week. Pat Elflein will make another start for Lewis.

Lewis was listed as questionable with a non-injury after he was limited at Friday’s practice. With RT George Fant also inactive, it means Sam Darnold will be playing behind an offensive line that’s missing two starters. The rest of the Jets inactives are QB James Morgan, OT Ross Travis, and OT Chuma Edoga.

The New York Post reports the deal includes $6 million guaranteed. Acquired from the Ravens early last August, Lewis went on to start 12 games at left guard. He was a big part of the problem when it came to the Jets’ abysmal run blocking, but they evidently saw enough to expect a step forward in 2020. Lewis turns 28 next month.

It was reported that the Ravens were waiving Lewis, but they found a trade partner at the last moment. It could still end up a de facto waive, as the Ravens’ compensation figures to be contingent on Lewis making the 53-man roster. The move comes four days after the Jets lured C Ryan Kalil out of retirement. Lewis gives the Jets options opposite LG Kelechi Osemele.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports Lewis has drawn some trade interest, so it is possible he is traded instead before the move becomes official. Either way, he is on his way out of Baltimore after joining the team as a fourth-round pick back in 2016. He was mostly underwhelming over 18 starts during his stay with the Ravens and is currently recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, although he reportedly recently passed a physical. Even so, it sounds like he will find a new team in the near future.

Lewis is working his way back from offseason shoulder surgery. It’s not a great sign he’s still not ready to practice, but be can come off the list at any time. Barring setbacks, Lewis should be ready for Week 1.