The New York Jets signed free-agent tight end Richard Owens on Tuesday. Owens hasn’t played in the NFL since 2007, weren’t disclosed.

Owens entered the league in 2004 as an undrafted free agent, playing in 39 games for the Minnesota Vikings from 2004 to 2006.

The St. Louis Rams would then pick up Owens where he would play in 14 games during the 2007 season.

The Rams released Owens on Aug. 31.

This move gives the Jets some needed depth at TE. Dustin Keller, with a sensational rookie performance in 2008, J’Nathan Bullock and Jack Simmons were the only tight ends on the roster.

James Dearth’s name always pops up because he began his career as a tight end but he  works exclusively as the Jets’ long snapper and so it would be hard to say how well he could fill in.