NEW YORK — The New York Jets are saying C-Ya to CJ2K after just one season.
The Jets announced Saturday they will not exercise their option on running back Chris Johnson, making him an unrestricted free agent next month and saving the team $3.5 million on the salary cap this year.
The team will, however, exercise the contract options on veteran linebackers Calvin Pace and Jason Babin. New York had until Monday to make a decision on Johnson, who was due a $500,000 option bonus that would have kicked in if he remained on the roster past that date.
Johnson was scheduled to make a base salary of $3.5 million, with a salary cap hit of about $5.25 million. He will now cost only around $1.75 million against the cap. Johnson will be free to sign with any team when the NFL’s free agency period begins on March 10.
The Jets will also likely be in the market for a running back during that time or in the draft. Chris Ivory and Daryl Richardson are the only other Jets running backs under contract for next season; Bilal Powell is scheduled to become a free agent.
The 29-year-old Johnson was signed to a two-year, $8 million deal by the Jets last April after six years with Tennessee to provide a versatile presence in the backfield. But, he was coming off offseason knee surgery and had his worst statistical season while splitting time with Ivory in then-offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg’s system.
Johnson, who will be 30 in September, ran for 663 yards – his first season under 1,000 – and one touchdown, while catching a career-low 24 passes for 151 yards and a score. Johnson’s 4.3 average per carry was respectable, but he hardly looked like the guy who ran for 2,006 yards in 2009, earning him his CJ2K nickname.
Thumbnail photo via Robert Deutsch/USA TODAY Sports Images
