New York Jets release P Steve Weatherford

The New York Jets released punter Steve Weatherford on Wednesday after a four-day stint when he was signed as an emergency replacement last week.

Regular punter Ryan Quigley missed last Sunday's game against the New England Patriots with a leg infection. Quigley, who has been taking antibiotics, apparently is ready to come back for Sunday's game against the Oakland Raiders.

Weatherford, a former New York Giants punter who also previously punted for the Jets, admitted after Sunday's game he wasn't ready to play. He punted four times, averaging 40.3 yards, and held the ball five times on field-goal and extra-point placements. Weatherford , 32, played for the Jets in 2009-10. In four seasons with the Giants, he averaged 46.3 yards per punt.

The Jets also promoted offensive lineman Wesley Johnson from their practice squad.

The 6-foot-5, 297-pound Johnson was acquired off waivers from the Pittsburgh Steelers in October 2014 and spent the final 10 weeks of the season on the Jets' active roster, although he was inactive for all 10 games.

Linebacker Quanterus Smith moved into Johnson's spot on the practice squad. The 6-5, 250-pound Smith was the fifth-round selection by the Denver Broncos in 2013. He spent his rookie season on injured reserve with a torn ACL suffered in college. In 2014, he played in 15 games (no starts) for the Broncos with 11 tackles before going on IR again in January with a left knee injury. Smith was waived by the Broncos after failing his physical in April.