The Jets are placing three players on injured reserve, Rich Cimini of ESPN reports. Wide receiver Arian Smith (knee), defensive lineman David Onyemata (groin) and linebacker Marcelino McCrary-Ball (ankle) were injured in Sunday’s overtime loss to the Packers. The three players must miss a minimum of four games before returning. The Jets have been hit hard at the wide receiver position with Tim Patrick (groin) and Omar Cooper Jr. (high ankle) already on injured reserve. McCrary-Ball is a core special teams player, having played five defensive snaps and 26 on special teams this season. He was carted off the field on Sunday. Darrell Jackson will see more snaps in Onyemata’s absence. In corresponding moves, according to Brian Costello of the New York Post , the Jets are signing wide receiver Malik McClain, defensive end Jack Heflin and linebacker Troy Reeder to the 53-player roster from the practice squad. The team signed quarterback Will Levis, linebacker Jaden Keller, defensive lineman Isaiahh Loudermilk and tight end Cody Hardy to the practice squad and released quarterback Bailey Zappe from the practice squad
The New York Jets have decided to add some insurance at the quarterback position and they did that on Tuesday by signing Will Levis to the practice squad, according to The Ringer . The Jets actually showed some interest in Levis earlier this month. After the former second-round pick got cut by the Titans on Aug. 30, the Jets brought him in for a tryout just a few days later, and although they didn't sign him at the time, they clearly liked what they saw, because they're signing him now. To make room for Levis on the practice squad, the Jets will be releasing Bailey Zappe . Aaron Glenn has made it clear that Geno Smith is the starter, but the backup situation is a little murkier. Cade Klubnik is QB2 in New York, but he's a rookie, so the Jets likely wanted to make sure they had another QB with some starting experience on the roster. In that sense, Levis fits the bill perfectly. The former Titans quarterback has been in the NFL since 2023 and he's started a total of 21 games over the past three seasons. The Titans were hoping that Levis, who was the 33rd overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft , would eventually be their franchise quarterback, but he never quite developed into that. Although Levis showed plenty of flashes, he was never consistent. In his first start ever for the Titans back in 2023, he threw four touchdown passes, which tied the NFL record for most passing touchdowns in an NFL debut. The problem for Levis is that he only threw four more touchdowns over the rest of a season that saw him start eight more games. The Titans handed him the starting QB job heading into the 2024 season, but he wasn't able to hold on to it. In the first five starts that year, he only threw for more than 200 yards in one game while throwing seven interceptions. The Titans finally benched him and after Week 15 after a game where he turned the ball over four times. After finishing with the worst record in the NFL in 2024, the Titans used the first overall pick to select Levis' eventual replacement in Cam Ward . Levis spent the 2025 season on the Titans' bench, and at that point, it was pretty clear that his time in Tennessee was going to be coming to an end. He ended his Titans career with a 5-16 record in 21 starts. In New York, the 27-year-old Levis will have exactly zero pressure on him. The Jets will likely be hoping that Levis can be a good influence on Klubnik in the QB room
Former Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis is signing with the New York Jets' practice squad on Tuesday, sources told Tom Pelissero of The Ringer. Levis started 21 games for the Titans before missing all of last year with a shoulder injury. He will take the place of Bailey Zappe, who is being released this week. The 27-year-old Levis was drafted in the second round by the Titans in 2023 from Kentucky. In his 21 starts over two seasons in Tennessee, he struggled with decision-making and accuracy, completing 61% of his pass attempts for 3,899 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions. Levis also added 70 rushing attempts for 240 yards and a touchdown on the ground. He has plenty of arm strength at the QB position, but Levis has quickly become a backup option after a few seasons in the NFL. In New York, he will be the third QB option on the roster behind veteran starter Geno Smith and rookie Cade Klubnik
The Jets have two quarterbacks on their roster, Geno Smith and Cade Klunbik. At the moment the number three quarterback is practice squader Bailey Zappe. The team is evidently still considering options, however. Two quarterbacks came to the team facility to work out, including one with a moderately big name. Levis was a a second […]
The Jets are looking at adding another quarterback to their broader roster. According to Zack Rosenblatt of TheAthletic.com, New York worked out Will Levis and Jack Plummer for a spot on the practice squad on Thursday. Levis, a second-round pick in 2023, was waived by the Titans as part of their roster cuts over the weekend and went unclaimed. While he missed the 2025 season due to injury, he started 21 games for Tennessee from 2023-2024, completing 61.0 percent of his passes for 3,899 yards with 21 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. Plummer is the UFL’s reigning MVP, having won it for his season with the Orlando Storm. He led the UFL with 2,188 passing yards while tossing 17 touchdowns with just one interception in 10 games. He previously spent time with the Panthers and worked out for the 49ers and Dolphins this summer. New York currently has just rookie Cade Klubnik on its 53-man roster at quarterback behind starter Geno Smith. Veteran Bailey Zappe is on the team’s practice squad
The Jets put two of their draft picks on injured reserve while setting their initial 53-man roster on Sunday. Sixth-round guard Anez Cooper and seventh-round safety VJ Payne both landed on the list. The Jets designated both players for return and they will be eligible to come back after the first four games of the regular season. Linebacker Tyler Baron will stay on the physically unable to perform list and is also ruled out for the first four games of the year. Cornerback Tre Brown, running back Chip Trayanum, and linebacker Mykal Walker went on injured reserve without the possibility of returning during the season. The Jets also waived or released DB Mory Bamba, WR Junior Bergen, WR Cam Camper, S Dean Clark, DB Jordan Clark, QB Brady Cook, LB Anthony Dunn, LB Paschal Ekeji, OL Courtland Ford, G Liam Fornadel, DB Keenan Garber, G Marquis Hayes, DT Jack Heflin, OL Xavier Hill, LB Jaden Keller, LB Nate Lynn, WR Malik McClain, S Jarius Monroe, DL Payton Page, WR Jamaal Pritchett, WR Quincy Skinner, DL Mazi Smith, DL Junior Tafuna, S Tanner Wall, LB Chase Wilson, OL Xavier Newman-Johnson, CB Samuel Womack, OL Landon Young, QB Bailey Zappe, TE Chase Curtis, TE Connor Hulstein, and RB Dominic Richardson
The New York Jets have begun their roster cutdowns early, releasing quarterback Bailey Zappe. Teams must finalize their 53-player rosters by 6:00 pm Eastern time, though final announcements often occur after the deadline
Jets head coach Aaron Glenn said this week that the team’s starters would play against the Buccaneers on Friday night, but there’s one significant change to that plan. Mike Garafolo of NFL Media reports that quarterback Geno Smith has been scratched due to foot soreness. Per the report, the Jets are not concerned about the injury and Smith would be playing if this were a regular season contest. With Smith out of the lineup, fourth-round pick Cade Klubnik will get an extended run in his first NFL game action. The Jets listed Klubnik as the No. 2 quarterback on their initial depth chart and he will now get the start against Tampa. Brady Cook and Bailey Zappe are the other Jets quarterbacks
The Jets took a flier on Cade Klubnik in the fourth round as a possible long-term option at quarterback. For now, the former Clemson star is competing for the backup job with Bailey Zappe and Brady Cook behind starter Geno Smith. Smith and the rest of the starters will play in Friday night’s preseason opener against the Bucs, but Klubnik is sure to see more snaps than Smith. Klubnik started 40 games in four seasons at Clemson, so the lights aren’t likely to be too bright or the stage too big. “ When the fire’s blazing , you have a little bit of a presence, kind of like I’ve been here before,” Klubnik said this week, via Dennis Waszak Jr. of the Associated Press. “And obviously, the speed is different, all of that. But it’s still football. And being able to just have a lot of games under my belt has definitely helped. But it is a new level and everything’s faster, everything’s quicker. You’ve got to think faster pre-snap, post-snap. And that’s a transition, for sure. “But I think that it definitely has helped me. I think just maybe I’ll step on the field and go play quarterback.” It’s the college experience that has him confident as he steps on an NFL field for the first time. He also knows he has “a long way to go” before he’s ready to start a regular-season game. “I think for me, you have to be confident stepping on the field,” Klubnik said. “And where the line is, I would also say that you have to be aware of where you’re at and humble enough to realize that I’m not where I want to be yet and I need to go get better. “And I think that if you’re cocky, you’re realizing, ‘I’ve arrived.’ You are everything you’re going to be. But I’m not where I want to be at, you know?”
With the Raiders last year, Geno Smith led the NFL with 17 interceptions. He’s on a new team this year, but the betting odds suggest the same result. Now with the Jets, Smith is the betting favorite to be the NFL leader in interceptions again. His odds to lead the league in picks are +950 at DraftKings. There are a lot of reasons to think Smith will throw a lot of interceptions. The obvious one is his own history, as the reigning league leader in picks. Another is that the Jets are expected to be a bad team this year, which means Smith will often be throwing the ball in desperation mode in the fourth quarter. And if Smith struggles, the Jets don’t have a great option to bench him for: The other quarterbacks on the roster are Bailey Zappe, Brady Cook, and rookie fourth-round pick Cade Klubnik. The Jets might want to get a look at Klubnik at some point this season, but it would probably be late in the year if it happens at all. Next in the betting odds to lead the league in interceptions is 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy at +1000, followed by Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence at +1100
New York Jets quarterback Cade Klubnik (back) was back on the practice field for the first day of training camp practice on Wednesday. Klubnik missed time during OTAs due to a lingering back tightness issue. He has now been cleared and resumed practicing on Wednesday. The fourth-round rookie is expected to compete with Brady Cook and Bailey Zappe for the No. 2 quarterback job behind Geno Smith. There is some developmental upside here with the Jets not being committed to 35-year-old Smith in the long-term. Klubnik is an interesting dynasty stash option for fantasy managers willing to play the waiting game
The New York Jets spent a fourth-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnick, and ESPN's Jets reporter Rich Cimini believes he will earn the primary backup job as a rookie. In a pre-training camp 53-man roster projection, Cimini sees New York keeping only two quarterbacks to start the year, with Klubnik edging out Brady Cook and Bailey Zappe for the remaining spot behind 13th-year veteran Geno Smith. Smith is coming off a forgettable 2025 season with the Las Vegas Raiders, and should his struggles follow him to the Jets, the opportunity could arise for New York's backup to see meaningful action by the end of the season. Klubnik is RotoBaller's dynasty QB46, but any playing time as a rookie would almost certainly improve his stock, making him an intriguing target in the later rounds of dynasty startups
The article discusses potential roster moves for the New York Jets, focusing on the quarterback position and the uncertainty surrounding Bailey Zappe and Cade Klubnik. It also mentions Jeremy Ruckert and speculates about Brady Cook's chances of making the roster, questioning the narrative that he is a lock. Other topics include Geno Smith's starting role, new helmets, former player Bart Scott's departure from ESPN, and the team's needs for the upcoming draft
The New York Jets' improved defense is expected to benefit defensive tackle Jowon Briggs, according to reports. Other Jets news includes updates on rookie QB Klubnik, the QB2 battle, and various player assessments
Cade Klubnik showed promise during offseason workouts and is in contention for the Jets' backup QB role. Despite missing time with back tightness, coaches have praised his mechanics, leadership, and potential for future playing time. He will compete with Bailey Zappe and Brady Cook, and is a developmental stash for dynasty leagues
Heading into the 2026 season, the Jets have made a series of moves to improve the state of their roster and overall depth, but are they ready to compete for a playoff spot? In this series, we’ll break down the depth chart for every position group. This time, we’ll go in depth at the quarterback position… Starter: Geno Smith Backups: Bailey Zappe , Cade Klubnik , Brady Cook Key additions/losses: Smith was acquired via trade from the Las Vegas Raiders , while previous starter Justin Fields headed to Kansas City in another trade and Tyrod Taylor departed in free agency. Klubnik was drafted in the fourth round, and Zappe was acquired on a futures deal at the end of last season. Top Performers in 2025: Fields made nine starts, winning two. He completed 63 percent of his passes for 1,259 yards and seven touchdowns with just one interception. He also rushed for 383 yards and four touchdowns. 2025 ranking per PFF: Smith was 37th out of 45 qualifiers last year, five places below Fields. Cook was dead last. Smith’s improbable return to the Jets sees him viewed very differently than he was when he left the Jets at the end of his rookie deal 10 years ago. He has matured a lot since then, leading the Seattle Seahawks to the postseason and earning two Pro Bowl invitations, the most recent of which was just three years ago. The Jets remain confident that the 35-year-old still has plenty left in the tank. They will be hoping to see the best version of him as he spearheads offensive coordinator Frank Reich ’s offense, which boasts stability on the offensive line and a retooled group of pass catchers. Head coach Aaron Glenn was probably being over-optimistic when he said that he believes Smith “can take the Jets to the promised land”. However, he refused to rule out Smith returning in 2027 if he plays well in 2026, despite the fact the Jets are widely expected to use a high draft pick on their quarterback of the future next April with Smith on a one-year deal. Behind Smith, the backup options are lacking in experience, and it would be a concern if New York entered the year being one Smith injury away from one of the current reserves being forced into significant playing time. Zappe is the most experienced option, with nine career starts, four of which his team won. However, he failed to crack a weak Cleveland Browns rotation last season and was without a team at the end of the year so he’s not exactly a sought-after talent. Klubnik is a former five-star high school recruit who many expected to play better in college and end up as a possible first-round pick. However, when the Jets took him in the fourth round, this was considerably earlier than most analysts expected based on his inconsistent collegiate career at Clemson. The Jets seem to like him a lot and obviously hope they can unlock some of his unrealized potential, but it would be a major gamble to assume he could be ready to play at the NFL level as a rookie. The other quarterback on the roster is Cook, who started the last four games in 2025 as an undrafted rookie. He looked out of his depth in those games and already seems to have already fallen behind Zappe and Klubnik in the pecking order. Ultimately, how Smith performs could make or break the Jets’ season. If he can play with the same level of efficiency as he did during his best years in Seattle, the Jets’ offense will be significantly improved, and the team should be competitive. Can we rely on that, though? Smith was poor with the Raiders last season as he led the league in interceptions and struggled to elevate a poor supporting cast. He was also the most-sacked quarterback in the league last year, which shouldn’t repeat with the Jets projected to have a solid offensive line. Perhaps with better protection, Smith can rediscover the fountain of youth. It would probably be smart for the Jets to figure out some way to get someone more established on the team as a more viable number two option. If they don’t, it look
[... truncated ...]
Data comes from cached Sleeper and KTC snapshots. Values update when the sync jobs run.
