Joe Douglas and the New York Jets have claimed wide receiver Matt Cole from a familiar squad, the San Francisco 49ers.
Identical Michael Carters (Michael Carter and Michael Carter II), several guys named Davis (Ashtyn, Jarrad, Corey and Connor) and a couple of players named Cole—this is the New York Jets roster.
The Jets claimed wide receiver Matt Cole from the San Francisco 49ers roster Wednesday, the team announced per Ethan Greenberg of the team’s official website.
We've claimed WR Matt Cole.
— New York Jets (@nyjets) May 5, 2021
Cole, 24, was waived by the Niners on May 4. Standing 5-foot-10 and weighing 197 pounds, the McKendree Unversity product (a Division II football program) is a Chicago, IL native who’s stood out particularly well on special teams in the past.
In 2018, he took home All-Great Lakes Valley Conference honors as a return specialist and wide receiver.
Cole entered the league with the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in April 2020. After finding himself cut late in training camp, he made his way to the practice squad. In December 2020, Robert Saleh’s old team, the Niners, scooped him up.
The special teams specialist dressed in one game, coming away with two tackles (one solo) in a 26-23 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 16.
Cole joins a deep wide receiver room with additions in the form of Corey Davis, Keelan Cole and rookie Elijah Moore, among others. He’ll also have the pleasure of sharing a special teams room with cornerback Justin Hardee, one of the Jets under-the-radar free agent signing who’s sure to make a tremendous special teams impact in 2021.
Can’t remember when the Jets paid this much attention to Special Teams, bringing in exceptional players. All three phases, all the time