The New York Jets traded for quarterback Kevin O'Connell on Sunday, the team announced on Sunday. The former Patriots backup was released last week and subsequently picked up by the Detroit Lions, who apparently had no plans to keep the 24-year-old.
The Jets sent an undisclosed draft pick to Detroit in exchange for O'Connell.
"We had a lot of interest in Kevin when he was coming out in the draft last year," Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum told the Web site. "He’s smart and athletic and we feel good about adding him to our team. We will move forward with four quarterbacks on our roster."
Those four quarterbacks include rookie starter Mark Sanchez, Kellen Clemens and Erik Ainge. In that group, Clemens is the only quarterback to have a start in the NFL. As a starter, he is 3-5, with a career 52 percent completion percentage, five touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
O'Connell was the 94th pick (third round) in the 2008 NFL draft out of San Diego State. In his rookie season, he made two appearances, completing four of six passes for 23 yards. He threw a pair of interceptions in his final preseason appearance for the Patriots this season.
