NY Jets: Lawrence Cager likely to be promoted to the active roster this week

The NY Jets appear likely to promote Lawrence Cager to the active roster this week.

The NY Jets have dealt with their fair share of injuries at the wide receiver position over the past couple of months. And with the injuries piling up, the Jets appear likely to promote Lawrence Cager to the active roster this week.

With just three healthy receivers on the roster right now  — Chris Hogan, Braxton Berrios, and Josh Malone — the Jets will likely have to make some sort of move before Sunday.

Slot receiver Jamison Crowder remains sidelined with a hamstring injury while Breshad Perriman hurt his ankle in Sunday’s 31-13 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Both players have yet to practice this week and appear doubtful for Week 3.

For that reason, head coach Adam Gase was asked about Cager’s availability for this week and he acknowledged that he’s a feasible option later stating that the Jets need “whoever has a pulse” at the wide receiver position.

While that’s not exactly a glowing stamp of approval, there’s reason to be excited about Cager’s potential.

Signed as an undrafted free agent shortly following the conclusion of the 2020 NFL Draft, Jets fans quickly latched on to Cager given his physical traits and the overall lack of talent on the roster.

That attachment only grew following a particularly strong summer where he began to impress in place of injured players. Unfortunately, Cager would suffer an injury of his own — a knee ailment that would knock him out for nearly half the summer.

The 23-year-old didn’t make the final roster which didn’t come as much of a surprise, but the Jets opted to bring him back on the practice squad after what they saw in training camp.

Now, it seems as though he’s set to make his NFL debut this Sunday.

Lawrence Cager was one of two practice-squad players the NY Jets protected this week.

The Jets protected two players on their practice squad — they’re allowed to protect up to four each week — and Cager was one of those players indicating that they plan to promote him later in the week.

The other was fellow undrafted cornerback Javelin Guidry and given the Jets’ injuries at cornerback with both Quincy Wilson and Arthur Maulet (IR) likely out for this week, it would make sense if Guidry was promoted as well.

Teams are permitted to temporarily promote two players from the practice squad each week without those players being subject to waivers. Each player can have this happen twice in a year before they are once again subject to normal waiver rules.

Josh Malone and Josh Adams have already used up their two promotions which is why the former has been signed to the active roster on a full-time basis. If Adams were to be promoted again, he would be required to clear waivers before being sent down.

While not confirmed, it seems very likely that Cager will make his long-awaited NFL debut in Week 3. And that’s good news for Jets fans who need any sort of reason to tune in this Sunday.