Mack, Simmons, Sherwood represent Treasure Coast on NFL rosters
Cut day for NFL teams finalizing their 53-man rosters for Week 1 of the 2022 season took place Tuesday and there will be three active players hailing from Treasure Coast high schools.
Two of the top defensive players in the league at their respective positions lead the way. Pro Bowlers Khalil Mack from Fort Pierce Westwood and Justin Simmons from Martin County and are now AFC West rivals with Mack moving to the Los Angeles Chargers via trade in the offseason and will battle Simmons' Denver Broncos.
Jensen Beach graduate Jamien Sherwood has fully recovered from an Achilles' injury for the New York Jets and is hopeful to build off a rookie season where he immediately earned a starting spot at linebacker.
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TCPalm takes a closer look at these three players as well as those who will be looking to latch on with an organization after being unsuccessful in securing a roster spot out of training camp.
Khalil Mack, Los Angeles
Mack’s resume speaks for itself as the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2016, making the Pro Bowl six straight years from 2015-20 and being a First Team All-Pro three times across stops with the Oakland Raiders and the Chicago Bears.
In the offseason, the 31-year old Mack was traded from the Bears to Los Angeles for two draft picks and will hope to be able to stay healthy after his 2021 season was cut short to seven games due to a foot injury.
Durability has been one of Mack’s calling cards for his career entering his ninth season, missing only two games prior to last season.
All reports from camp with his new team have been positive how Mack has transitioned to the Chargers’ defense and with one of the league’s top edge rushers Nick Bosa opposite of where Mack will line up, the two have a chance to be one of the league’s top duos getting after the quarterback.
Mack was joined by former Patriots’ star cornerback J.C. Jackson as an offseason addition for Los Angeles, which ranked among the bottom five teams in scoring defense allowing 27 points a game.
Justin Simmons, Denver
Simmons had another excellent season in 2021, tying his career-high in interceptions with five and totaled 80 tackles to earn Second Team All-Pro honors at his safety position.
Named the 53rd best player in the NFL by ESPN with their top 100 players rankings, Simmons has made 65 consecutive starts and enters his seventh year in the league as the heartbeat of the Broncos’ defense.
With Simmons in the secondary, Denver’s defense went from to 25th to third in points allowed league-wide but the offense ranked in the bottom third of the league as the Broncos only finished with a 7-10 record last season.
The 29-year old Simmons will have a new head coach to work under as Nathaniel Hackett comes in after serving as the offensive coordinator for the Green Bay Packers the past three seasons.
Excitement surrounding Denver is high after the organization brought in quarterback Russell Wilson from AFC West rival Seattle hoping to have its first winning season since 2016.
Jamien Sherwood, New York Jets
Sherwood became the first player ever from Jensen Beach High School to play in the NFL after being drafted by the Jets in the fifth round of last year’s draft.
Stepping right into a starting role at linebacker after transitioning to playing safety at Auburn, Sherwood started four games in total before he suffered an Achilles’ injury in Week 6 against New England that sidelined him for the rest of the season.
Making 15 tackles in his limited action, the 22-year Sherwood has recovered very well from his injury and has added 15 pounds to his frame to continue showing he can stick at linebacker in 2022.
With a strong preseason and having already gained trust among the New York coaching staff, Sherwood figures to get right back in the mix for playing time as the Jets look to improve on a 4-13 record in 2021.
Looking for a roster spot
Of the locals who were waived by teams on cut day, Port St. Lucie graduate Albert Wilson was the most notable name.
Vying for a roster spot with the Minnesota Vikings, Wilson had a strong preseason including catching a pair of touchdowns in a game against the San Francisco 49ers.
The 30-year old Wilson last year started five games for the Miami Dolphins, catching 25 passes for 213 yards and with his seven years of NFL experience figures to be given another opportunity by a team needing a veteran presence.
Sebastian River graduate Raheem Layne was signed by the Los Angeles Chargers as an undrafted free agent and despite showing promise in the preseason was among the final cuts.
It would not be a surprise to see Layne added to the Chargers' practice squad or for another team to give the former Indiana defensive back a look.
Lincoln Park Academy graduate Ledarius Mack played in three games in 2021 for the Chicago Bears but was waived in May.
The former Buffalo Bull and younger brother of Khalil Mack made three tackles in limited playing time at linebacker.
Treasure Coast graduate Omari Cobb spent 2021 on the practice squad for the New York Giants after appearing in one game for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2020.
The former Marshall linebacker was a participant in rookie mini camp with the New England Patriots this summer and has also worked out for the Las Vegas Raiders, Cleveland Browns and the Chicago Bears looking for a spot on a practice squad.
Bryan Cooney is a high school sports reporter at TCPalm, part of the USA TODAY Network. You can reach him at bcooney@gannett.com and also on Twitter at @Bryan_Cooney.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Mack, Simmons, Sherwood represent Treasure Coast on NFL rosters
