FLORHAM PARK, NJ — When veteran defensive end Vinny Curry announced last August that he was missing the season with a rare blood condition that required his spleen to be removed, he vowed to return in 2022. And now he has come.
Curry, who turns 34 on June 30, re-signed with the New York Jets on Wednesday, the team said. In a video posted on the team’s official Twitter pageAn excited Curry explained: “I’m back baby. I’m ready to flee and kick some ass along the way.”
Last summer there were serious concerns about curry.
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Despite being diagnosed in July, the initial expectation was that he could return in mid-September once he had recovered from the splenectomy. But then blood clots formed, forcing him to take blood thinners. That, he said at the time, would prevent him from having physical contact for three to six months. “[The doctors] informed me that I expect to make a full recovery and return to the field next season,” Curry said at the time.
“I am grateful to everyone who has reached out to me by phone, social media and in person. I can promise you all that I will come back stronger and more determined than ever.”
Curry is best known for his time with the Philadelphia Eagles. He played eight seasons for the Eagles and was a starter on their Super Bowl championship team in 2017.
Seeking depth and leadership on the defensive line, the Jets signed New Jersey-born Curry to a one-year deal last offseason. But he never made it onto the field.
Curry returns to a fairly competitive situation on the defensive end. In free agency, the Jets have signed Jacob Martin, who will be joined by Carl Lawson (returning from Achilles surgery), John Franklin-Myers and Bryce Huff. There’s also a good chance the Jets will draft a defensive end with one of their two first-round picks in next week’s draft.