Aumavae survives cut, still a N.Y. Jet

PALMER — Former Palmer High School star Junior Aumavae is one step closer to solidifying his spot with the National Football League’s New York Jets.

Aumavae, a 6-foot-2 and 310-pound nose tackle, survived the first major round of cuts, announced by the team Monday. New York released 14 players to trim its roster to 75. All NFL teams must cut to 75 players before today at noon AST. The next test for Aumavae, a 2004 Palmer High School graduate, is to make the team’s final 53-man regular season roster. Teams must be at the 53-player mark before the league’s deadline, Aug. 31 at 2 p.m. AST.

The Jets’ transactions come two days after Aumavae saw the most playing time of his NFL career. Aumavae was on the field for 16 plays during his team’s 24-21 win over the New York Giants last Saturday.

“Every opportunity I get, I go out there and take advantage of it,” Aumavae said by cellphone last week. “I’m feeling pretty good about going out there and playing. I’m very thankful they’re giving me an opportunity to go out and play. It’s just a blessing.”

As of Monday, Aumavae was listed third on the team’s depth chart at nose tackle behind veterans Kenrick Ellis and Damon Harrison, but Aumavae’s playing time has significantly increased during each week of the preseason. Aumavae has also had at least one tackle in each of his three preseason games this season.

In Week 2 of the preseason, Aumavae was on the field for 10 plays against Jacksonville, and finished with two tackles, including one for a loss. Aumave had one tackle for a loss in his seven plays against Detroit during the first week of the preseason.

For more on Aumavae had his time with the Jets, see http://tinyurl.com/lb3v42w.