The Shaq Lawson era is over a couple days early, as the Jets released the defensive end as part of a roster shuffle on Saturday.
The team also released safety Sharrod Neasman, and elevated three players from the practice squad for Sunday’s season finale in Buffalo: defensive end Ronnie Blair, wide receiver Tarik Black and offensive lineman Ross Pierschbacher.
Lawson, who was a first-round pick of the Bills in 2016, was acquired from Houston in August for a sixth-round pick, with the hope that he could bolster a pass rush that lost big free agent signing Carl Lawson to an Achilles tear at the end of camp.
Unfortunately, while Shaq did get his first career interception this season, one that helped the Jets go on to beat the Bengals, he wasn’t as effective as hoped. He played 14 games, making seven starts, but had just one sack (split into two half-sack), 19 tackles (five for loss), two passes defensed, and five quarterback hits.
Lawson had not seen the field since Week 14, however, with two of the last three games seeing him inactive as a healthy scratch. He was also due to count $9 million against the Jets’ 2022 salary cap, so releasing him now saves that hit.
Neasman signed with the Jets this summer after five seasons in Atlanta and played in 11 games, notching one pick, 11 tackles, and three passes defensed.
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