Alvin Keels announced the move on his Twitter page Wednesday, making Washington a potentially pretty free agent despite the fact he is recovering from a broken right leg that sidelined him for the last nine games of the regular season.
Two days after announcing they would release Thomas Jones later this week, the Jets placed a second-round tender on restricted free agent running back-kick returner Leon Washington, according to his agent.
The Jets declined comment on the move.
The second-round tender is a one-year deal worth $1.759 million, which gives the Jets the right of first refusal. But it means a team would must give up only a second-round pick if they sign him to an offer sheet that New York doesn't match.
Washington made the Pro Bowl as a kick returner after the 2008 season and was a fast, shifty complement to Jones. They sustained a compound fracture of the tibia and fibula at Oakland in Week 7 last year. Washington had surgery, in which a rod was inserted in to the tibia, and was given a timetable of six to 12 months to heal.
"I expect there to be a market for Leon during free agency and would say his return to the Jets will be 50-50 at best at this point," Keels tweeted.
"He will be 100 percent healthy and ready for camp either in N.Y. or elsewhere," Keels tweeted.
In January, Washington said doctors told him they was six months ahead of a normal recovery -- something Keels reiterated Wednesday.
Shonn Greene, the team's third-round pick last year, is expected to be the beginning running back after a solid second half of the season in which they helped the Jets reach the AFC championship game. If Washington leaves, depth would be a concern at a position that was six of the team's greatest strengths.
Jones was informed by the team Monday that it would release him when free agency opens Friday, despite the fact they ran for a career-high 1,402 yards and 14 touchdowns.
New York already indicated it planned to place a first- and third-round tender on wide receiver Braylon Edwards, and a second-rounder on backup quarterback Kellen Clemens.
Also, fullback Tony Richardson will be an unrestricted free agent and might not return, meaning three-quarters of the Jets' regular backfield from last season could be gone.
Other restricted free agents the Jets must make decisions on are wide receivers Brad Smith and Wallace Wright, safeties Eric Smith and James Ihedigbo, cornerback Drew Coleman, offensive tackle Wayne Hunter, defensive tackle Howard Green and linebacker Marques Murrell.
The Jets are also expected to release cornerback Lito Sheppard, who had a disappointing season after being acquired from Philadelphia last year.
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