Jets' failed waiver claim shows just how bad they're hurting on defense

It's no secret that the New York Jets have been struggling with injuries throughout the first half of the 2026 NFL season. Multiple starters have missed a lot of time, particularly on offense, to start the year.

Dylan Parham, Adonai Mitchell, and Breece Hall all missed a decent chunk of games with various injuries, while on the defensive side of the ball, they've been without their big-ticket free agent signing Joseph Ossai for more than half of their matchups.

Recently, it's been the interior defensive line that's been hit the hardest. Veteran David Onyemata has been out since suffering a core muscle injury in Week 2, and this past week, the Jets lost their best run-stuffing defensive tackle, T'Vondre Sweat, to a knee injury. It makes sense why they were looking to add to the position.

NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported on Thursday that the Jets put in a waiver claim for recently released Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Jonah Laulu. Unfortunately, the Tennessee Titans had a higher priority, and they were awarded the former seventh-round draft pick.

New York Jets could've used Jonah Laulu amid DT injuries

Laulu was quietly incredibly productive for the Raiders in 2025. He recorded 51 tackles, four sacks, and eight tackles for loss in 15 starts. For whatever reason, the new coaching staff in Las Vegas couldn't find a way to properly use him.

It makes sense why the Jets were interested in his services. With both Onyemata and Sweat down for the foreseeable future, New York is going to need to give Harrison Phillips, Jowon Briggs, and rookie Darrell Jackson Jr. more reps.

Jackson is a young player and has actually really impressed despite initially being tabbed as someone who was going to take his rookie season to sit back and learn from the veterans ahead of him.

Instead, he's been one of the Jets' most productive run-stoppers so far in 2026, and should only get better with more playing time.

Phillips and Briggs, on the other hand, have not been great this season. Phillips has been Pro Football Focus' 102nd-ranked defensive tackle in 2026, while Briggs currently ranks 114th. Considering how good both players were for the Jets in 2025, it's an incredibly disappointing development.

The Jets did make an acquisition earlier in the week, signing ex-Kansas City Chiefs undrafted free agent Amari McNeill to the practice squad, but they need someone who can play right away.

Depending on how bad the Jets' defensive line performs against the Raiders in Week 8, they may want to make another move to bolster the position.

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