CLEVELAND — The Jets dumped another one of their recent draft picks Wednesday, waiving wide receiver ArDarius Stewart.
Stewart was suspended for the first two games of the season for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing drug policy. He returned to practice Monday, but the Jets were able to wait until Wednesday to make a roster move.
Stewart was a third-round pick in 2017 out of Alabama. He had six catches for 82 yards and seven rushes for 27 yards as a rookie. He also returned nine kicks for 173 yards.
He became the fourth player from the 2017 draft class the Jets have cut. Stewart, Chad Hansen, Dylan Donahue and Jeremy Clark have all been cut. Clark is currently on the team’s practice squad.
Stewart tumbled down the depth chart with the Jets feeling good about their top four receivers: Robby Anderson, Quincy Enunwa, Jermaine Kearse and Terrelle Pryor. That made him expendable.
LT Kelvin Beachum follows up a tough assignment last week with another one Thursday. Beachum will be the Jets’ primary blocker on Browns edge rusher Myles Garrett, who typically lines up on the defensive right side.
“I have a lot of respect for him,” Beachum said. “I know he’s a highly conditioned athlete and I’m thankful for the opportunity.”
The 2017 No. 1-overall pick had two sacks in Week 1 against the Steelers. He did not have any sacks last week against the Saints. The Jets gave up a lot of pressure to the Dolphins last week, and Beachum was beaten by Robert Quinn on several occasions.
“It’ll be a big [challenge],” Jets coach Todd Bowles said. “It’s some premier pass rushers. He just faced Quinn last week, he’s got Garrett this week, so it’s going to be a tough matchup.”
Beachum said Garrett’s quickness can be a challenge.
“For his size, he bends the corner really well,” Beachum said. “He has a great get-off. It reminds you from a length standpoint of guys like Carlos Dunlap, a long body frame, but he also has the wiggle to get on your edge and really press your edge and bend, not as good as [Quinn], but he can bend the corner.”
It appears the Jets will be without S Marcus Maye (foot) for the third straight week. The Jets listed him as doubtful on the official injury report, but it is hard to see how he could play after not practicing for the past month. … TE Neal Sterling (concussion) and OLB Josh Martin (concussion) were both officially ruled out. … Browns TE Seth DeValve (hamstring) and DE Emmanuel Ogbah (ankle) were ruled out. LB Christian Kirksey (shoulder/ankle) is doubtful. WR Jarvis Landry (knee) and CB Damarious Randall (heel) are questionable.