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New York Jets have waived Valentine Holmes but the former NRL star is expected to stay with the NFL team.
Holmes will likely receive an offer to the join the Jets’ practice squad within hours.
The NFL entered a savage period on Saturday with all 32 teams forced to slash their 90-man pre-season squads to 53.
There was good news for the Jets’ Australian punter Lachlan Edwards who won the team’s punting job in a competition with American Matt Darr.
There was also good news for giant former Sydney Rabbitohs junior Jordan Mailata, who made the Philadelphia Eagles’ 53-man team along with Geelong-born punter Cameron Johnston.
Holmes and more than 1,100 other players across the league were waived or released the past two days.
Teams will now peruse the waiver list and on Sunday can claim Holmes or other unwanted players, raising the possibility the former Cronulla NRL star could be picked up by another NFL team.
A rival team could sign him to their 53-man roster or practice squad.
However, the most likely path is Holmes is not claimed and the Jets offer him a place on their practice squad.
NFL teams have 10-man practice squads that train with their 53-man rosters, but do not play games.
The Jets, one of four teams participating in this year’s International Pathway Program, receive an extra practice squad spot and Holmes is expected to take up that 11th slot.
If he does, he will not be eligible to play games this season.
Holmes excelled, particularly with his catching ability, in the limited opportunities he had in the Jets’ four pre-season games.
He had eight receptions for 85 yards, averaging 10.6 yards with a long of 27 in Thursday’s final preseason game against the Eagles.
It was on the ground at running back where he did not impress, carrying the ball 11 times for a total of just nine yards.
There was speculation 203cm tall, 157kg Mailata would be cut, traded or, after suffering a back injury last week, would be placed on the Eagles’ injured reserve list for the regular season.
But Philadelphia proved they view him as a valuable long-term project.
The NFL regular season begins on Thursday.
© AAP
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