New York Jets end international experiment with minimal results

The New York Jets have ended their international experiment without many results. Here are all the details and what this means moving forward.

The New York Jets made a roster move that will fly under the radar this week.

The team announced that it released Valentine Holmes from the practice squad on Friday. Holmes was holding onto a special “11th man role” on the squad.

Normally NFL teams can carry up to 10 players on their practice squads, but the league has made it a priority to globalize the game and has made some exceptions in recent years.

The NFL’s International Player Pathway Program was instituted in 2017 and was created to provide opportunities for international athletes from different backgrounds to compete at the highest level to earn a spot on an NFL roster.

In 2019 the four AFC East teams participated in a random draw to be awarded an overseas player.

Holmes originally joined the Jets back in April. The 24-year old went through all of the offseason training activities, mandatory minicamps, and full training camp and earned the “11th spot” on the practice squad.

As part of the roster exemption, Valentine was not eligible to be activated off the practice squad. If he made the 53 man active roster from the outset he could’ve played this season, but he was unable to do so.

Per the Jets official press release, “Holmes (6-foot-1, 200 pounds), whom the Jets listed as a running back and wide receiver, saw action in all four preseason games. He wound up with 11 carries for 9 yards, 8 catches for 85 yards with a 27-yard long reception in the preseason finale against Philadelphia, a zero-yard punt return and a 21-yard kickoff return. He played 39 offensive plays and five special teams snaps in the summer games.”

The reason why the Jets randomly decided to release him at the end of November is due to his interest in returning home to the National Rugby League back in Australia.

It didn’t work out for the New York Jets or Valentine Holmes, but it was a cool experiment that may eventually bear fruit.

There will be no further roster maneuvering because this was a roster exemption on the practice squad, so now the Jets will maintain their 10 man practice squad.

Per the team’s website, here’s their current practice squad roster:

• Ben Braden, offensive line
• Ryan Crozier, offensive line
• Ukeme Eligwe, linebacker
• Bronson Kaufusi, defensive lineman
• Corbin Kaufusi, offensive lineman
• Josh Malone, wide receiver
• Jamey Mosley, linebacker
• James Murray, offensive line
• Jeff Smith, wide receiver
• Mike White, quarterback