Jakeem Grant has spent time with a few different teams this offseason, but he has been unable to land a deal so far. The veteran receiver/return specialist will now join the Jets this week in his latest bid to find a roster spot.
Grant will take part in New York’s upcoming minicamp on a tryout, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. The 31-year-old has been busy this spring in his bid to make an NFL return. Grant took part in the Eagles’ rookie minicamp, later doing the same with the Saints. He has not played a game since 2021.
The former sixth-rounder earned second-team All-Pro honors in 2020, his final full campaign in Miami. That was followed up by a season split between the Dolphins and Bears, during which Grant again got a second-team All-Pro nod in addition to a Pro Bowl invitation. For his career, he has six total return touchdowns to his name along with an average of 24.5 yards per kick return.
Grant has also chipped in offensively at times, topping out at 373 yard in 2020. Expectations were high for him when he inked a three-year Browns deal, but injuries have led to a prolonged absence. The Texas Tech product suffered an Achilles tear in August 2022, followed by a ruptured patella tendon one year later. Considering the missed time, it comes as no surprise he remains a free agent deep into the offseason.
The Jets used undrafted rookie Xavier Gipson as their kick and punt returner last year. The 23-year-old racked up 319 yards and a touchdown on punt returns, adding an average of 23.2 yards on kick returns. That performance could allow him to retain his special teams role moving forward, but an impressive showing from Grant over the coming days could lead to competition being brought in.