Jets Re-Signing James Burgess, Jordan Jenkins

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The Jets are bringing back their leading tackler from last season and are on the verge of re-signing their sacks leader, too.

Middle linebacker James Burgess has agreed to a one-year contract with the team, WFAN’s Brian Costello reported Monday, citing Burgess’ agent, Drew Rosenhaus. Financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed.

Meanwhile, the Jets and outside linebacker Jordan Jenkins also agreed to a one-year deal, according to multiple reports. 

Burgess began last season on the Jets’ practice squad, but injuries forced him into the starting lineup for the final 10 games. He finished the year with a team-high 80 tackles, as well as one interception, a safety, a half-sack, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

James Burgess of the Jets makes the tackle on Joe Mixon of the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on Dec. 1, 2019, in Cincinnati, Ohio.Michael Hickey/Getty Images

Burgess, 26, has bounced around the league, now playing for his seventh team since 2016. The only other regular season game action the Louisville product saw came with the Cleveland Browns in the 2017 and ’18 seasons (17 games, 11 starts).

Burgess was set to become a restricted free agent, but the Jets declined to tender him a qualifying offer, making him unrestricted. It’s the second time this offseason such a gamble has paid off for general manager Joe Douglas. He also re-signed cornerback Arthur Maulet after not tendering him an offer. 

A third-round pick by the Jets in 2016, Jenkins, 25, had eight sacks, 32 tackles and two forced fumbles in 2019. He has registered 15 sacks over the past two seasons. 

Jenkins considered other offers before deciding to return to the Jets, the Daily News reported.