Jets Retain Four Guards And Three UDFA Rookies On Roster

The New York Jets set their initial 53-man roster Tuesday afternoon, moving a total of 37 players.

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JETS RELEASED / WAIVED

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While there were no unexpected cuts, there are multiple rarities among Gang Green’s 53.

The Jets retained four running backs, with 2023 fifth-round draft pick Israel Abanikanda surviving his impressive preseason finale. In another unusual move, New York found roster spots for three undrafted starting defensive linemen: Leonard Taylor III (Miami), Braiden McGregor (Michigan) and Eric Watts (Connecticut).

In a strategy rarely followed by NFL teams, Gang Green will have seven receivers on its roster, including sophomore Jason Brownlee and special teams ace Irvin Charles.

The Jets are retaining just two quarterbacks at the moment, but could be in the market to add one on a practice squad deal.

In terms of underdogs, veteran Takk McKinley has done what it takes to earn his spot. The former Atlanta Falcons first-round pick, who has been sidelined for over a year, has impressed throughout training camp.

Free agent defensive line addition Leki Fotu and veteran tight end Kenny Yeboah will begin the season on injured reserve while rookie quarterback Jordan Travis is on the non-football injury list.

All non-veterans must go through the NFL’s waiver system while players with four years of service can immediately sign with any team.

JETS RELEASED / WAIVED

CB Shemar Barthélemy
The Georgia Southern product signed a UDFA contract with the Jets and appeared in preseason games. Bartholomew recorded seven tackles and two pass deflections, but he didn’t appear to have a realistic path to a CB role.

S Al Blades Jr.
The undrafted rookie out of Duke was relatively quiet this summer and never climbed the depth chart.

RS Brandon Codrington (transferred)
The Jets traded the rookie return specialist to the Bills Tuesday afternoon in a trade that also involved late-round 2026 draft picks.

OL Austin Deculus
The offensive tackle was released by the Houston Texans last November and later joined the Jets’ injury-ravaged offensive line group. He was selected in the sixth round of the 2022 draft.

LB Sam Eguavoen
The 31-year-old linebacker, who has special teams ability, made 15 appearances for New York last year after a stint with the Miami Dolphins.

OL Obinna Eze
The Jets signed the former USFL offensive tackle to the practice squad last December, but he failed to make a splash.

TE Anthony Firkser
The Jets signed the veteran tight end on July 30, while releasing fullback Nick Bawden. Most recently with the Detroit Lions, the New Jersey-born Firkser played in 71 career NFL games.

OL Chris Glaser
The offensive guard was originally signed to the Jets’ practice squad in 2022. He earned two starts in 2023 and could return to a reserve role.

OL Jake Hanson
The former Green Bay Packers center joined the Jets during the 2023 campaign and appeared in seven games.

WR Tyler Harrell
The Miami product was not selected and did not shine in his preseason. Harrell played in all three games, getting three receiving targets and making a 19-yard reception.

DL Bruce Hector
Hector, who played in the XFL, originally signed with New York after the 2023 Hall of Fame game and later landed on the practice squad.

LB Anthony Hines
The former Los Angeles Rams P-Squad player joined the Jets on Aug. 12 after rookie linebacker Jimmy Ciarlo was lost to injury in the preseason opener.

DL Jalyn Holmes
Holmes, 28, began the 2023 season on New York’s practice squad before making five regular-season appearances.

RB Deon Jackson
The former Indianapolis Colts starter was brought in mid-summer in response to Tarik Cohen’s retirement, but remained behind Abanikanda and Valladay in the pecking order.

S Jalen Key
Mr. Irrelevant is still a good story, but Key’s development hasn’t yet reached a point where he warrants a spot on the list.

TE Zack Kuntz
The physical unicorn, a seventh-round pick in the 2023 draft, has been slow to progress as a football player and hasn’t shown any improvement as a pass catcher from last year.

OL Brady Latham
The left guard, a four-year starter at Arkansas, was one of 17 undrafted rookie free agents to initially sign with New York. He turned out to be primarily a camp player.

OL Kohl Levao
The UFL product posted a solid 77.7 PFF grade in the preseason and could be headed for a P-Squad contract.

QB Adrian Martinez
The 2024 UFL MVP joined the Jets a week into training camp and appeared in all three exhibition games, completing 25 of 47 passes for 270 yards and one interception.

Linebacker Marcelino McCrary-Ball
The former 49ers undrafted free agent made his NFL debut with the Jets, playing in two games last year.

WR Lance McCutcheon
After spending the 2023 campaign as a player on the Jets’ practice squad, the Montana State product caught 2 of 7 receiving targets this preseason.

S. Jarius Monroe
The 2024 East West Shrine Bowl defensive MVP turned out to be nothing more than a camp body.

Quarterback Andrew Peasley
The undrafted rookie out of Wyoming completed 60.6 percent of his passes while posting an 85.5 quarterback rating during preseason play.

TE Lincoln Sefcik
The Jets took a risk on the South Alabama product, who went undrafted but was quickly overshadowed in training camp by Firkser.

K Austin Seibert
With Greg Zuerlein as the primary kicker, Seibert was a luxury for the Jets and had a breakout performance this summer. He will most likely find employment elsewhere.

CB Kendall Sheffield
The Jets released cornerback Nehemiah Shelton and replaced him with Sheffield in the first week of camp. The former fourth-round pick is familiar with defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich from their time with the Atlanta Falcons.

LB Jackson Sirmon
An undrafted draft pick after his time at Cal, Sirmon joined the Jets’ rookie class in April. He had seven tackles in the preseason.

DL Tanzel Smart
Smart has been with the Jets since 2020, regularly alternating between the practice squad and active roster.

WR Brandon Smith
Smith has spent time with the Dallas Cowboys and Arizona Cardinals but has yet to appear in a regular-season game. The former UFL player signed on Aug. 2 and went on to lead the team with 120 receiving yards in the preseason.

CB Tre Swilling
The Jets signed the former 49ers cornerback on Aug. 2. He totaled two tackles and a pass breakup on defense and forced a fumble on special teams.

DL Jaylen Twyman
The former Dolphins defensive tackle joined the Jets on Aug. 18, making one tackle in the final preseason game.

OL Willie Tyler III
The college MVP has some intriguing physical attributes, but is nowhere near polished enough for the NFL level.

RB Xazavian Valladay
The former Arizona State running back spent his rookie season on the Jets’ practice squad. He led the Jets with 62 yards in the preseason win over the Giants, but there was too much talent drafted ahead of him on the depth chart.

WR Isaiah Winstead
As a rookie, Winstead spent 13 weeks on the San Francisco 49ers’ practice squad last year before playing for the UFL’s Arlington Renegades this spring. He was targeted four times and had no receptions in the preseason.