Jets claim ex-Texans defender off waivers, cut ties with recently signed UFL standout

Despite picking him up just yesterday, the New York Jets are cutting ties with former UFL standout Patrick Jenkins. To replace him, they claimed former Houston Texans defensive tackle Junior Tafuna off waivers.

SNY's Connor Hughes was first to report on the Jets roster move, which came as a shock considering just how recently they brought Jenkins into the fold.

The former Columbus Aviators defender will hope to catch on elsewhere, while Tafuna will play for his second NFL team after signing with the Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent last offseason.

After five seasons at the University of Utah, Tafuna went unselected in the 2025 NFL Draft and signed with Houston shortly thereafter. He stuck around through the summer but was unable to crack the final 53-man roster. Tafuna spent the entire 2025 season on the practice squad.

New York Jets add another body to their deep defensive line room

Tafuna joins a Jets defensive line room with eight players ahead of him. He'll need to stand out in practice and in the upcoming preseason games if he hopes to stick around in New York.

It will be tough for him to supplant veterans like Harrison Phillips and David Onyemata. The Jets will be looking to their veteran experience to help anchor the line of scrimmage and force a staunch resistance against opposing offensive lines.

That's not even including some of the high-upside young players as well, such as T'Vondre Sweat, Jowon Briggs and fourth-round rookie Darrell Jackson Jr.

Sweat hasn't been on the field yet in training camp; he's still recovering from a hamstring injury that landed him on the NFI list to start the final phase of the NFL offseason.

But another player has already looked to fill the void he left behind. According to reporters on the scene in training camp, Jackson has been a hard presence to miss thanks to his hulking size and power.

Tafuna's real competition will be the fringe roster guys, including Mazi Smith, who was a throw-in to last trade deadline's Quinnen Williams deal with the Dallas Cowboys.

Payton Page and Jack Heflin pose a threat as well, considering they have a bit of a head start on the former Texan. Both players have been in camo with New York since the start.

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