Patrick

Onwuasor

The Jets signed Onwuasor to a one-year, $2 million deal back in March. He looks likely to return this week after opening the season on IR. Onwuasor will help improve a Jets pass rush that’s been among the worst in the league.

This was expected after Onwuasor suffered a knee injury during the final week of camp. Initially expected to start at inside linebacker for New York, that responsibility will instead be manned by Blake Cashman and Neville Hewitt in the interim.

The ex-Raven is ticketed for starting duties at inside linebacker, so it’s a big loss. The Jets are entering the strange 2020 season as one of the league’s most injured teams. If the Jets don’t like Onwuasor’s return timeline, it is possible he will be sent to injured reserve as a return candidate.

Onwuasor lost his starting job with the Ravens last year but still mustered three sacks to bring his four-year total with Baltimore to 9.5. He’ll reunite with former teammate C.J. Mosley, who the Jets signed to a massive five-year contract from Baltimore just last year. With both Avery Williamson and Mosley coming off serious injuries, it’s possible Onwuasor finds himself in New York’s starting lineup out of camp.

Onwuasor didn’t practice much this week, but the Ravens are holding out hope he plays. His status will likely go all they way to game-time again. L.J. Fort will make another start if Onwuasor can’t get cleared.

Onwuasor is on the wrong side of questionable after missing practice all week. The Ravens plan to take his status all the way up to pre-game warmups. L.J. Fort would pick up Onwuasor’s snaps if he sits.

A restricted free agent, Onwuasor was given a second-round tender in March. With C.J. Mosley gone, Onwuasor is currently Baltimore’s top linebacker, but they should add some help in the draft.

The tender will pay him $3.095 million. Onwuasor was C.J. Mosley’s running mate late season, playing 434 mostly good snaps in the middle of the defense and even earning Defensive Player of the Week honors in Week 16. It is unlikely Onwuasor is an option to replace Mosley if the star linebacker walks in free agency, but he is a solid rotational option.

A bit player who has been in on just over 42% of the snaps this season, Onwuasor had a breakout game in the upset win over the Chargers on Saturday with a pair of sacks and forced fumble while leading the team in tackles. The 26-year-old third-year UDFA has played less this year after being in on 59% of the snaps in 2017, taking over for Zach Orr next to C.J. Mosley.

Onwuasor only played 60 snaps on defense as a rookie, but he got the start in Week 17 with Orr sidelined. 2016 second-rounder Kamalei Correa will also get a shot, and Baltimore could decide to move Albert McClellan back inside if they want to replace Orr in-house. Looking at the candidates, it would be a surprise if the Ravens did not bring in some help this offseason.