The Redskins have signed undrafted rookie defensive tackle Jonathan "J.T." Mapu, the team announced on Thursday.

Also, the Redskins announced they have released wide receiver-kick returner Jerome Mathis.

A native of Hawaii, Mapu participated as a tryout player at Redskins mini-camp on May 2-4.

Mapu, 6-4 and 290 pounds, played four seasons at the University of Tennessee and totaled 65 tackles (32 solo), three sacks, 6.5 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

Mapu, 24, missed the 2004-05 seasons at Tennessee so that he could participate in a two-year church mission.

Mathis, a three-year NFL veteran, originally signed with the Redskins on April 4. He was the Redskins' only free agent acquisition of the offseason. He previously played for the Houston Texans.

Mathis was expected to provide Rock Cartwright some competition at kick returner in preseason, but the Redskins drafted a pair of college kick returners in wide receiver Devin Thomas and cornerback J.T. Tryon.