The Jets might have their starting fullback.
New York re-signed Nick Bawden to a one-year deal Sunday night, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. It’s unclear how much Bawden’s new deal is worth, though.
Bawden originally joined the Jets as a practice squad player on Sept. 23, 2021, but he didn’t play in a regular-season game until Week 10 after FB/TE Trevon Wesco landed on injured reserve. Bawden played nine games total for the Jets, including one start in Week 17. He finished with one reception for 20 yards on a fantastic play design by offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur.
This play call sticks out to me. They ran something similar to this in the red zone with Elijah Moore catching the bubble off a motion for a 15 yard gain.
They faked the bubble and hit fullback Nick Bawden who was wide open.
MLF found ways to use Miami’s tendencies against em pic.twitter.com/qe74czAhbG
— DJ Bien-Aime (@Djbienaime) November 22, 2021
While the move certainly doesn’t lock up the fullback job for Bawden, it means he’ll be in contention for it in 2022. It also could signal the end of the Wesco experiment after the Jets moved him from tight end to fullback.
Bawden was a seventh-round pick by the Lions in 2018. He missed the whole season after tearing his ACL that summer. He played in 10 games for the Lions in 2019 but suffered another knee injury before the 2020 season, when the Lions ultimately waived him.
Now Bawden has a chance to secure a starting role on the Jets in 2022.
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