The New York Jets are through 10 training camp practices (two of them joint) and one preseason game. There\u2019s plenty of time to get a better feel about where the roster stands, who is most likely to stick around and who is on thin ice.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s a stab at the 53-man roster in the wake of Friday night\u2019s preseason opener<\/a> against the Buccaneers:<\/p>\n Quarterback (2)<\/p>\n In: Geno Smith, Cade Klubnik Klubnik showed some poise in his debut. I was surprised he didn\u2019t get more reps since he\u2019s a rookie, but he\u2019ll also get plenty of reps in the last two preseason games. As for Zappe and Cook, neither showed anything to indicate they\u2019re serious threats to push Klubnik for the backup job behind Smith (who is day-to-day with ankle soreness, by the way).<\/p>\n I still wouldn\u2019t rule out Darren Mougey adding a veteran quarterback to the room at some point, but I don\u2019t personally find that to be the absolute necessity that others might. Bringing in someone like Will Levis wouldn\u2019t seem to do much for the 2026 Jets.<\/p>\n Running Back (4)<\/p>\n In: Breece Hall, Braelon Allen, Isaiah Davis, Kene Nwangwu Hall will be the bell-cow, and Davis\u2019s injury makes it likely Allen will emerge as the clear-cut No. 2 option behind him. Davis will still have a role, but Allen has had a good summer (again) and looked impressive in the preseason game, especially on a 31-yard touchdown run. The Jets like Beck both for his blocking and special-teams role, so it wouldn\u2019t be shocking if he ultimately stuck around.<\/p>\n The two early MVPs of Jets training camp<\/p>\n Zack Rosenblatt<\/p>\n Wide Receiver (6)<\/p>\n In: Garrett Wilson, Adonai Mitchell, Omar Cooper Jr., Isaiah Williams, Tim Patrick, Arian Smith Williams has clearly jumped ahead of Cooper on the depth chart. It\u2019s far too early to panic, and Cooper showed some things in the preseason game that indicate his skill set is better suited for games than practices, where contact is limited. Wide receivers coach Shawn Jefferson did have an interesting quote about Cooper last week: \u201cOmar is doing fine. I got on him because last week he had some pitfalls, and that\u2019s being a rookie; it\u2019s camp days. You\u2019re not used to all the drag and the mundaneness of it. But that kid is going to be all right.\u201d<\/p>\n As for the rest of the group, Patrick was playing with the backups on Friday. That usually isn\u2019t a great indication for a veteran player, but this coaching staff does value the veteran presence he brings, and he can be useful as a blocker. There aren\u2019t really any viable backup outside receivers currently in the room unless the Jets really believe in undrafted rookie Malik McClain, who has had some moments.<\/p>\n Smith\u2019s issues with drops don\u2019t appear to have healed with time. He had a drop on Friday that he deflected into the arms of a Buccaneers defensive back for an interception. His only shot at sticking around the roster is on special teams \u2014 and maybe the juice of being a fourth-round pick a year ago saves him.<\/p>\n Pritchett has played well both as a returner and receiver this summer, but I\u2019m just not sure where his place is on the roster. Maybe a returner-needy team might be willing to trade a draft pick.<\/p>\n Tight End (4)<\/p>\n In: Mason Taylor, Kenyon Sadiq, Jeremy Ruckert, Jelani Woods Sadiq should be back at some point in the next couple of weeks, and this tight end room will be full. I\u2019m of the mind that Woods is safe at this point \u2014 both because of the way coaches talk about him and because he\u2019s such a unique player<\/a>. This feels like one of the best position groups on the roster \u2014 when was the last time you could say that?<\/p>\n Offensive Line (9)<\/p>\n In: Olu Fashanu, Armand Membou, Joe Tippmann, Dylan Parham, Josh Myers, Chukwuma Okorafor, Max Mitchell, Xavier Newman, Anez Cooper I have serious concerns about the state of the center position if Myers goes down. The Jets could theoretically move Tippmann back over, but he hasn\u2019t practiced at center all summer. Newman has been the primary backup and he\u2019s had some snapping issues. I\u2019m not sure what quality of center will be available on the waiver wire post-camp, but it\u2019s something worth keeping an eye on.<\/p>\n Cooper flashed some serious potential on Friday, albeit with the third unit. He didn\u2019t allow a single pressure or sack in 20 pass blocking snaps and PFF had him graded as the Jets\u2019 best offensive lineman.<\/p>\n Defensive Tackle (5)<\/p>\n In: T\u2019Vondre Sweat, Harrison Phillips, David Onyemata, Jowon Briggs, Darrell Jackson Sweat was activated off the Non-Football Injury list and should return to practice in the near future, a boon considering his importance to the fabric of this defensive line. Jackson has flashed throughout the summer and could play a rotational role as a rookie even with four solid veterans ahead of him.<\/p>\n Both Page and Heflin have also had moments this summer and should stick around on the practice squad.<\/p>\n Outside Linebacker (4, plus one on PUP)<\/p>\n In: David Bailey, Will McDonald, Joe Ossai, Kingsley Enagbare
Out: Bailey Zappe, Brady Cook<\/p>\n
Out: Andrew Beck, Chip Trayanum, Sam Scott<\/p>\n
Out: Malik McClain, Caullin Lacy, Jamaal Pritchett, Cam Camper, DT Sheffield<\/p>\n
Out: Chase Curtis, Connor Hulstein<\/p>\n
Out: Landon Young, Kohl Levao, Courtland Ford, Liam Fornadel, Marquis Hayes<\/p>\n
Out: Payton Page, Mazi Smith, Jack Heflin, Junior Tafuna, Ben Barten<\/p>\n
Out: Braiden McGregor, Kingsley Jonathan, Nathan Voorhis, Paschal Ekeji
PUP: Tyler Baron<\/p>\n