FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — The New York Jets hosted punter Matt Araiza for a workout at the team’s facility Wednesday, six days after a San Diego State investigation found no wrongdoing by him in an alleged gang rape at an off-campus party in October 2021.

Joe Linta, Araiza’s agent, confirmed the punter’s visit with the Jets during an interview on WFAN Sports Radio in New York. ESPN first reported what is believed to be Araiza’s first workout for an NFL team since he was released by Buffalo last August.

The session with the Jets could prompt other teams to bring in Araiza, who has maintained his innocence on the allegations.

The workout with New York didn’t necessarily mean a signing was imminent. The Jets already have an established punter on the roster after signing veteran Thomas Morstead to a $1.3 million contract that includes $1.1 million in guarantees.

The San Diego District Attorney decided late last year to not press criminal charges against Araiza, who had a lawsuit filed by a woman against him and two other former SDSU players. The women alleged in the suit that Araiza, then 21, had sex with her in a side yard at an off-campus house before bringing her into a bedroom where a group of men took turns raping her.

The woman, who was 17 at the time, reported the alleged rape the following day to the San Diego Police Department, which investigated the allegations for nine months before turning over its investigation to prosecutors on Aug. 5.

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STEELERS: Pittsburgh signed former Arizona linebacker Markus Golden to a one-year contract on Wednesday, giving them some depth behind star edge rushers T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith.

The 32-year-old Golden has spent most of his eight seasons in the NFL with Arizona, racking up 47 sacks in 111 games with the Cardinals and New York Giants. Golden had 2 1/2 sacks last year for Arizona while finishing with 48 tackles, tied for the third-highest total in his career.

ADRIAN PETERSON, at age 38, told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that he has no intention of officially retiring this year, either. Instead, he’s holding out hope some team will allow him to continue his career just a bit longer.

“Mentally, I haven’t officially hung it up,” he said. “We’ll see what happens. My mindset is, if God’s willing maybe an opportunity presents itself and maybe it happens this season. … But nothing happens this season, for sure, I will be hanging it up.”

Peterson first led the NFL in rushing in 2008 with 1,760 yards, then in 2012 with 2,097 yards (second all time to Eric Dickerson’s 2,105 with the Rams in 1984) and again in 2015 with 1,485 yards. With 14,918 career rushing yards, Peterson needs 352 more to pass Barry Sanders for fourth place on the all-time list.


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