OT Wayne Hunter, who struggled immensely in the first two preseason games, has been demoted from his starting role. He will be used as the sixth offensive lineman, coming in for jumbo packages, a role he previously succeeded in for the Jets. Rex Ryan said the Jets would give third-year player OT Austin Howard the chance to earn the job in the third preseason game against the Carolina Panthers.
The Jets signed Howard off the Ravens' practice squad last fall. Howard went undrafted out of Northern Iowa in 2010. He has played in four NFL games.
Although Rex Ryan did not say that the Jets were in the market for another right tackle, he refused to commit to Howard as his opening day starter. "We're going to get Austin Howard a shot to be with this first group," Ryan said. "We'll see how he does this week."