After a week in limbo, New York Jets guard Alex Lewis -- held out of the last game for a previously undisclosed reason -- was placed Friday on the non-football injury list.
Lewis, 28, is seeking help for an off-the-field issue, sources said. By rule, he must spend at least three weeks on the NFI list. The Jets will continue to pay him even though they're not obligated to do so under the NFI rules, sources said.
Earlier Friday, coach Adam Gase announced that Lewis wouldn't play Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders. He was scratched last week, too. Gase called it "an organizational decision," refusing to elaborate.
Lewis' status became an issue last Friday, when he appeared on the practice report as "limited participation" for a non-injury-related reason. The team wouldn't divulge why, but multiple eyewitnesses said Lewis and Gase had a heated exchange that day during practice.
Lewis was held out of the remainder of practice and was a healthy scratch last Sunday. He has been unhappy with the offense, sources said, and there's a belief that his frustration got the best of him. Eyewitnesses said he snapped at Gase, who denied there was a verbal altercation.
Lewis was allowed to attend virtual meetings, but he was kept out of practice as the team mulled his fate. On Monday, Lewis told ESPN that there was "no issue at all" and that he was "shooting" to play against the Raiders.
The Jets acquired Lewis from the Baltimore Ravens in August 2019, and they thought enough of him to re-sign him last offseason to a three-year, $18.6 million contract, including a $5.6 million guarantee. He has started 21 games for the Jets at left guard.