Josh

Baker

Baker is having a Monday MRI, which may reveal even more damage. His knee was gruesomely bent the wrong way in a collision with Panthers CB Josh Norman’s helmet Sunday night. The Jets will scour Monday’s cuts for tight end help.

Baker’s injury looked downright nasty. As he tried to catch up with a pass in the front corner of the end zone, a Panthers corner barreled into his knee and bent it the wrong way. The Jets have now lost two tight ends in one half of football as Dustin Keller pulled up lame with a hamstring issue.

Baker tore his right ACL in Sunday’s preseason game. He’ll revert to injured reserve after clearing waivers. An undrafted free agent last season, Baker appeared in 11 games, making three catches for 27 yards. He’ll get a shot to make the team next summer.

TE Josh Baker is a lock to make the team and can play the position. ESPN New York’s Rich Cimini points to the diminishing role of the fullback as the reason why Conner may not stick, but the Jets intend in relying heavily on the run. It would be a moderate surprise if the “Terminator” was waived.

Per the New York Daily News, the Jets are intrigued with Baker’s upside after a six-catch, 75-yard preseason. An undrafted rookie out of Northwest Missouri State, Baker replaces Jeff Cumberland (Achilles’ tear) on the roster.

Baker, 26, was owed just $555,000 for 2013, but tore his right ACL during the 2012 preseason and fell out of the Jets’ plans. He’ll likely clear waivers.

Baker appeared in 11 games for the Jets in 2011 and caught three passes for 27 yards and one touchdown. Gang Green was said to be high on him heading into 2012 before he suffered a nasty torn ACL in the preseason. Baker sat out 2013.

Maneri was just signed in February. He appeared in four games for the Bears last season. Signed in April, Baker was out of the league last season after sitting out in 2012 with a torn ACL. Felder has never appeared in an NFL game.

Baker showed the ability to play both fullback and tight end, seeing extensive snaps in the preseason finale. The Jets want him on the practice squad.

Amongst the Jets’ final cuts on Saturday, Baker caught six passes for 75 yards during the preseason, and acquitted himself well as a blocker. Capable of playing fullback in addition to tight end, his versatility may eventually land him on an active roster.