HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (AP) -The New York Jets signed veteran running back Tony Fisher and linebacker Mark Zalewski on Friday.
Fisher, who spent last season with St. Louis after four years with Green Bay, should add depth to the Jets' running back corps. Cedric Houston left the team abruptly Thursday for personal reasons, leaving the Jets with just Thomas Jones, Leon Washington and undrafted rookies Danny Ware and Alvin Banks at the position at the start of training camp.
Fisher made it in time to participate in the Jets' late practice Friday.
A free agent out of Notre Dame in 2002, Fisher served as a backup to Ahman Green for four seasons. He has 889 career yards rushing and four touchdowns, and has 139 receptions - including 48 in 2005 - for 1,059 yards and four scores.
He played in just eight games for the Rams last season, gaining nine yards on six carries and catching 14 passes for 159 yards.
Meanwhile, coach Eric Mangini thinks Houston's departure is a permanent one. Houston, the Jets' sixth-round pick in 2005, rushed for 676 yards and seven touchdowns and caught 15 passes for 109 yards in two seasons.
"He's made a decision that he wants to move on with the rest of his life," Mangini said. "I respect that decision. He thought it was what was best for him."
Zalewski was originally signed by the Jets as an undrafted free agent on May 12, and released three days later. He led the University of Wisconsin with 90 tackles last season at middle linebacker, and had 236 career tackles and eight sacks for the Badgers.
