Jets coach Todd Bowles announced after last Sunday’s overtime win over the 49ers that safety Marcus Gilchrist tore his patellar tendon during the game and the team officially brought his season to an end on Tuesday.
Gilchrist has been placed on injured reserve along with right tackle Breno Giacomini. Giacomini started the year on the physically unable to perform list because of a back injury and is being shut down after a recurrence of the back problems.
Both players are under contract for the 2017 season, although there figure to be a lot of changes to the Jets roster after the way they fizzled out this season. Parting ways with Giacomini would save them $4.5 million under the cap, which may make him a prime candidate to become a cap casualty. Gilchrist is set to make $6 million and the Jets would save $4.625 million by releasing him, but his departure would leave $2.75 million of dead money on the cap compared to just $625,000 for dispatching Giacomini.
Offensive lineman Craig Watts and safety Ronald Martin have been promoted from the practice squad.