<p>NEW YORK — The New York Jets released defensive end Henry Anderson, an expected offseason move that will save the team $8.2 million on the salary cap.</p>
<p>The decision to cut Anderson, which was announced by the team Tuesday, will give the Jets around $75 million in cap space. New York, expected to be among the teams with the most cap space this offseason, could make additional cuts before free agency begins on March 17.</p>
<p>The 29-year-old Anderson was a key member of the Jets’ defensive line after being acquired in a trade from Indianapolis for a seventh-round draft pick in 2018. </p>
<p>He had a career-high seven sacks in his first season with New York under then-coach Todd Bowles, and was signed by the Jets to a three-year, $25.2 million contract that included $17 million in guarantees during the first two years. But Anderson had just 1 1/2 sacks in 29 games over the past two seasons in defensive coordinator Gregg Williams’ system.</p>
<p>While his sack totals were down, Anderson was one of the league’s top run stuffers last season. He was also a key contributor on special teams during his stint in New York, becoming the third player in franchise history to have at least one blocked field goal, a blocked punt and a blocked extra point.</p>
<p>Anderson had a $9.5 million salary cap charge for next season, so the remaining $1.3 million will count as dead money.</p>
<p>He was a third-round pick of Indianapolis in 2015 out of Stanford and played three seasons for the Colts. Anderson also overcame a serious throat injury — a fractured larynx — during a game in 2017 to continue his playing career. He has 158 career tackles, 11 1/2 sacks and eight passes defensed in six NFL seasons.</p>
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