Jets add ex-Packers offensive tackle in flurry of practice squad moves

The New York Jets, among several other teams, are still finalizing their practice squad and swapped out one offensive lineman for another Thursday evening.

Per the team's official website, the Jets are signing ex-Green Bay Packers offensive lineman Brant Banks and releasing Marquis Hayes from the practice squad in a corresponding move. Hayes, a former seventh-round draft pick, had spent all of 2025 with the Jets and was a fixture of the 2026 offseason roster.

Banks is a former undrafted free agent with the Green Bay Packers. He split the 2025 season between the Tennessee Titans and the Packers' practice squads and was with Green Bay throughout the summer of 2026. He was waived as part of final roster cuts, but found a new home on New York's practice squad.

When the Jets hosted their array of free-agent kickers for a workout on Wednesday, including Justin Tucker, Joshua Karty, and Michael Badgley, they also hosted long snapper Garrison Grimes and Banks, but were footnotes thanks to the high-profile nature of New York's kicker struggles.

Clearly, the Jets liked what they saw, considering the fact that they added him to their own practice squad. The 26-year-old offensive tackle appeared in only two games for the Packers last season, but would play a total of six snaps on special teams.

New York Jets practice squad picture becoming clearer

In addition to the Banks signing, the Jets also announced that they released veteran linebacker Mykal Walker and waived undrafted free agent running back Dominic Richardson with injury settlements, removing them from New York's injured reserve.

Obviously, NFL rosters weren't completely finalized after 53-man roster cuts on Sunday, and the first wave of waiver claims certainly wasn't the end either. But with Week 1 just around the corner, teams are truly beginning to piece together what their biggest remaining needs are.

In the Jets' case, they were lacking true offensive tackle depth on the practice squad. The Banks addition gives them just that: a 6-foot-7, 306-pound project they can continue to develop.

Other moves that are expected to be made include a replacement for veteran kicker Jason Sanders and maybe even quarterback Bailey Zappe. Sanders is currently occupying a practice squad spot, but could be replaced by any one of the kickers the Jets worked out on Wednesday.

As for Zappe, the Jets worked out ex-Titans quarterback Will Levis and former UFL standout Jack Plummer. Either one of those signal callers could take Zappe's spot on the practice squad.

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