When the news broke this past week that the New York Jets had traded oft-injured linebacker Blake Cashman to the Houston Texans for a 2023 sixth round draft pick, that sound that could be heard all over the country was the thud of the jaws of Jets fans hitting the ground. A player who felt like he was getting hurt just by rolling out of bed wasn’t cut, Joe Douglas was able to actually acquire a draft asset for him. So with this 3 year odyssey at an end, let’s pay our respects to Mr Cashman.
The Saga of Blake Cashman
2019
The Jets drafted Cashman in the fifth round (157th overall) of the 2019 NFL Draft, a class that brought us the likes of Quinnen Williams, Trevon Wesco, Bless Austin, Chuma Edoga, and Jachai Polite. His career got off to a promising start. In his first 7 games, he recorded 27 solo tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 3 QB hits, ½ sack, 1 pass defensed, and 1 forced fumble.
Week 8 vs Jacksonville
But on October 27, he suffered a torn labrum. Four days later, he was placed on season-ending IR. A somewhat promising rookie season had been snuffed out.
Games played: 7
IR stints: 1
Injuries: Torn Labrum
2020
But then there was a new year, new hope. 2020 came around. Joe Douglas was the new general manager by now. And Cashman, who had gotten past his shoulder injury had an opportunity to win a starting linebacker spot for a Jets defense that was sorely lacking playmakers.
Week 1 vs Buffalo
On September 13, 2020, in the first quarter of the season opener, he hurt his groin. Two days later, he was placed on IR. By league rules, he had to sit out at least 3 games, well, he missed 4. He was activated on October 17 for Week 6.
Week 7 vs Buffalo
After getting through one game vs Miami, he hurt both his hamstrings on the turf of Met Life Stadium. But he did not go on IR, he was considered week to week.
Week 12 vs Miami
After missing 4 weeks, he returned Nov 29 for a game against Miami. And in that game, he recorded one tackle before leaving the game after aggravating said hamstring injury. On December 3, 2020, he was placed back on injured reserve, terminating his season.
Games played: 4
IR stints: 2
Injuries: Strained groin, Strained hamstrings
2021
But then came his third year, 2021. There was a whole new coaching staff. Robert Saleh and Jeff Ulbrich. The Jets linebacker group was comprised of such household names as Jarrad Davis, Jamien Sherwood, and Del’Shawn Phillips.
Week 1 vs Carolina
Did he get through his first game against? You can probably guess, of course he didn’t! He hurt his hamstring in the season opener and on September 14, he was placed on injured reserve and was expected to miss 2 weeks. No, he didn’t miss 2, he missed 3.
Week 5 vs Atlanta
But then Cashman was healthy enough to make the trip to Tottenham for the Jets Trans-Atlantic showdown vs the Atlanta Falcons. He was activated on October 9, 2021. He had the chance to show all the fans of Europe what kind of toughness he had, he could show off his agility, his quickness, his tackling. In the game, he never showed up on the stats sheet. Not even a tackle.
Week 7 vs New England
Following the bye, he hurt his groin in Gillette Stadium on October 24. Within 2 days, he was placed back on injured reserve, and the injury turned out to be season-ending.
Games played: 3
IR Stints: 2
Injuries: Strained hamstring, strained groin
Summary
So let’s look at the totality. In 3 years, he played 14 games and had 5 IR stints. He played 7 games in his rookie year and recorded 27 tackles. In his second and third years, he combined for 7 games and made only 7 tackles.
And the fact that Joe Douglas netted a draft pick that will likely fall about 20-25 spots behind where he was actually drafted in 2019, well, this may be Joe’s most improbable trade yet. It makes me wonder how many first round picks he could net for Denzel Mims!
