Mosley is designated as a post-June 1 cut, meaning the Jets will save $4 million with the move. The 32-year-old has been the captain of the Jets’ defense when healthy but dealt with a neck injury in 2024. Originally drafted by the Ravens, Mosley has made five career Pro Bowls and has 1,083 career combined tackles, 10 forced fumbles, 12 interceptions, and 12 sacks over his 10-season career. The Athletic’s Zach Rosenblatt previously reported that he believed Mosley would retire in the offseason. He leaves behind a storied career if he does hang it up, but if Mosley chooses to return, he would have a market as a starting linebacker.

In an article where he looked at the Jets’ 2025 cap situation, Rosenblatt said Mosley is likely to be released by the team or retire this offseason while adding that “the most likely outcome is that he retires.” Mosley’s 2024 was limited to just four games due to a neck injury, and he managed just 17 total tackles in the games he appeared in. It wouldn’t be the first time we’ve seen neck injuries for early retirements, as the Cowboys saw a number of neck injuries prematurely end Leighton Vander Esch’s career last offseason. Mosley will turn 33 this off-season and has just one year left on his deal. If he is released, the Jets can save $4 million against the 2025 cap while taking on a dead cap hit just north of $8.7 million.

Mosley has been out over a month with the neck issue and previously missed time with a toe injury. Though he could technically return from injured reserve in Week 18, that’s not going to happen for the 32-year-old linebacker. Mosley will almost certainly end the year with 17 tackles and no other counting stats of note across four games. Mosley is under contract with the Jets for one more season.

He would not go as far as to say he’s optimistic that he’ll play in Week 13. Mosley has not played since leaving Week 8’s game and would have been on injured reserve at this point for most organizations. The fact that the Jets are letting him speak to the media suggests his return is at least somewhat close, but it’s hard to understand his timetable. It could also be argued that the Jets might be better off letting younger linebackers play and seeing what they have in a lost season.