Frank Reich may be the key to unlocking this forgotten Jets anomaly

Every NFL roster has a player who feels more like an urban legend than an actual member of the team. I suppose for the New York Jets, that player last year was Jelani Woods.

Day 24 of your 2026 Jets Camp Countdown belongs to the Athletic Anomaly, the Original Zack Kuntz, and perhaps the most mysterious player on the entire roster....yes, it's Jelani Woods.

Remember when the Jets claimed Woods off waivers last year and fans immediately started dreaming about what a 6-foot-7 athletic freak could become in this offense? You'd be forgiven if you forgot Woods was even on the roster last season.

The former Virginia standout played just four games in 2025. He spent most of the year as a healthy scratch, playing 59 of his 60 total offensive snaps over the final three weeks of the season.

Yet somehow, despite barely seeing the field, Woods is back for another season. And there might be a very specific reason for that.

1. Where Jelani Woods stands entering Jets training camp
2. Frank Reich may be the biggest reason Jelani Woods is still on the Jets
3. What would make 2026 a success for Jelani Woods
4. Recent 2026 Camp Countdown Breakdowns

Where Jelani Woods stands entering Jets training camp

Woods enters camp fighting an uphill battle for a spot in a Jets tight end room that is suddenly one of the deeper position groups on the roster.

Mason Taylor is back as the projected starter after a promising rookie season. First-round pick Kenyon Sadiq is one of the most exciting young players on the roster. Jeremy Ruckert just signed a contract extension and remains a valuable blocker and special teamer.

That leaves Woods fighting for what could be one of the final spots on the 53-man roster. Normally, a player who spent most of the previous season on the bench would be considered a long shot in that situation. And....he probably should be.

Woods' 2025 season certainly doesn't help his case. Of his 72 total snaps between offense and special teams, 71 came during the final three games of the season when the Jets were trotting out various UDFAs and veterans signed off the street.

The coaching staff clearly didn't view him as someone who was able to contribute last season. And yet, when free agency arrived, the Jets brought him back anyway. Again, there might be a very good reason for that.

Frank Reich may be the biggest reason Jelani Woods is still on the Jets

If there's one person in the building who understands Woods better than anyone else, it's Frank Reich. The Jets' new offensive coordinator was the Colts' head coach when Indianapolis drafted Woods in the third round back in 2022. He also happened to oversee the only productive season of Woods' NFL career.

Woods flashed legitimate upside as a rookie, finishing with 25 catches for 312 yards and three touchdowns. Colts fans were genuinely excited about the future of a guy who was quite literally the most athletic tight end in NFL history at the time he was drafted (before Zack Kuntz claimed that title).

Unfortunately, that's when the injuries started. A hamstring injury wiped out his entire 2023 season. Turf toe required surgery and cost him all of 2024. By the time the Colts released him during final roster cuts in 2025, Woods had effectively lost two full years of his career.

The Jets took a chance on him, claiming him off waivers before the start of the season. Now, it appears Reich is willing to do the same.

Woods barely played after arriving in Florham Park, yet the Jets still re-signed him after hiring the very coach who originally drafted him. That doesn't feel like a coincidence, no?

Woods has also reportedly made some plays during OTAs this spring, including a strong showing during one of the open media sessions. Of course, it's still only May.

Nobody should be drawing major conclusions from OTA practices where someone with Woods' athletic traits is always more likely to stand out. But it's another reminder that the talent that made Woods a third-round pick hasn't disappeared.

What would make 2026 a success for Jelani Woods

Success for Woods in 2026 starts with simply finding a way to make the Jets' roster. The clearest path may come through special teams, but that presents its own set of challenges for the former quarterback recruit.

One player the Jets chose not to bring back this offseason was Stone Smartt, who carved out a roster spot largely because of his special teams contributions. Woods could potentially fill a similar role.

The problem is that special teams has never really been a major part of his game. He played just 23 special teams snaps as a rookie and only 12 last season. If Woods wants to stick around, he'll need to earn the trust of Chris Banjo and prove he can contribute outside of the offense.

The athleticism has never been the question. Once again, at one point, Woods owned a perfect 10.0 Relative Athletic Score and was considered the most athletic tight end prospect in NFL history. Players with his combination of size, speed, and explosiveness simply don't come around very often.

The challenge has always been turning those traits into a defined role. Most players who effectively miss two full seasons never get another opportunity. Jelani Woods is getting one.

The fact that Frank Reich is the person giving him that chance makes him one of the more fascinating long shots on the Jets roster this summer.

Recent 2026 Camp Countdown Breakdowns

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