New York Jets defensive tackle Al Woods (Achilles) suffered a season-ending torn Achilles in the Week 8 overtime win over the New York Giants on Sunday. It's a big loss for the Jets defensive line, as Woods was a key piece for the team's run defense. With Woods on the field this year, the Jets defense allowed 3.1 yards per rush. With him off the field, that number rose to 4.8 yards per rush. The 36-year-old veteran will finish his first year in New York with one sack, six tackles (four solo), two tackles for loss and two QB hits in six games played (zero starts). Solomon Thomas will have an expanded role on the Jets' defensive line moving forward with Woods done for the remainder of the year.
The New York Jets signed free-agent defensive tackle Al Woods to an undisclosed deal on Wednesday, according to sources. Woods, originally a fourth-round selection by the New Orleans Saints in 2010 out of Louisiana State University, will be joining his sixth NFL team in New York. He's already played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Seattle Seahawks, Pittsburgh Steelers, Tennessee Titans and Indianapolis Colts. The 36-year-old veteran nose tackle spent the last three seasons in Seattle and finished 2022 with 39 tackles (27 solo), two sacks and five tackles for loss in 14 starts. Woods could compete with Quinton Jefferson for a starting role on the interior of the defensive line, but at the very least, he'll provide experience as a rotational lineman.
The Seattle Seahawks signed free-agent defensive tackle Al Woods to a one-year, $3 million deal on Friday. Woods receives a $750,000 signing bonus after spending the 2011 and 2019 seasons with the Seahawks. The move comes as the team plans to release long-time starter Jarran Reed after unsuccessfully trying to trade him this week. Woods, 34, signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars last year but opted out of the season due to COVID-19. He has primarily been a run-stuffer in his career since entering the league as a fourth-round pick out of LSU. Woods has 5.5 sacks in 10 seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Seahawks, Pittsburgh Steelers, Tennessee Titans and Indianapolis Colts. He made five starts in 14 appearances for Seattle the last time he played in 2019.
Seattle Seahawks defensive lineman Al Woods looked like another one of head coach Pete Carroll's surprise reclamation projects this year, but he's now been suspended for four games for violating the league's policy regarding performance-enhancing substances. The Seahawks Defense will now have to replace Woods with undrafted free agent Bryan Mone from their practice squad, and their defensive line rotation is just one of many areas where Seattle's defense will be lacking on Sunday. Jadeveon Clowney (core), Quandre Diggs (ankle), Shaquill Griffin (hamstring), and Mychal Kendricks (hamstring) are also questionable or doubtful to play. Seattle's offense should have a good day against the Cardinals Defense, but their defense might get pounded in return.
