Jets claim ex-Patriots DE Kony Ealy off waivers
The New York Jets are giving a shot to a castoff from a divisional rival.
Defensive end Kony Ealy was claimed by the Jets on Sunday, the team confirmed, just one day after the pass rusher was waived by the New England Patriots.
A second-round pick in 2014, Ealy was acquired by the Patriots in a March trade with the Carolina Panthers.
"I just think it's one of those things that didn't work out or wasn't going to work out," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said Saturday after Ealy was waived. "Nobody's fault. He worked hard. We worked hard. A lot of effort put in, but in the end, we didn't feel like this was going to work out."
Ealy, a cousin of Jets pass rusher Sheldon Richardson, joins a defense that recorded just 27 sacks last year. Defensive lineman Leonard Williams suffered a sprained wrist on Saturday against the New York Giants.
PHOTOS: Best of NFL preseason