The New York Jets waived wide receiver ArDarius Stewart on Wednesday, but they weren’t through with the former Alabama standout.
Stewart went through waivers unclaimed, and on Friday, the Jets re-signed the wide receiver for their practice squad. New York released wide receiver Deontay Burnett so it could add Stewart.
Each NFL team can have a 10-player practice squad. The members of the practice squad can practice with the team, but they aren’t allowed to play in games. Only players on the 53-man active roster can do that.
FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE
Stewart missed the first two games of the 2018 regular season after being suspended by the NFL for violating the leagues’ Policy on Performance-Enhancing Substances.
Stewart rejoined the Jets on Monday, and the team had until 3 p.m. CDT Wednesday to add him to the 53-player roster, which would have necessitated releasing a player. Instead, when the deadline came, New York released Stewart.
Stewart joined the Jets as a third-round choice in the 2017 NFL Draft.
During his rookie season, Stewart played in 15 games, with two starts. He was on the field for 231 offensive snaps and 132 special-teams plays in 2017. Stewart caught six passes for 82 yards, ran seven times for 27 yards and returned nine kickoffs for 173 yards last season.
Stewart played in three games during the 2018 preseason and caught five passes for 41 yards.
Before playing for the Jets and the Crimson Tide, Stewart was Alabama’s Class 2A Back of the Year in 2011 and 2012 at Fultondale High School, where he was a three-time All-State player — the first two seasons in the athlete slot and the last one as a quarterback.
Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @AMarkG1.
