Jets’ latest roster move could leave high-profile rookie on the sideline in Week 2

The New York Jets made a curious roster move on Saturday ahead of their Week 2 game against the Buffalo Bills, elevating cornerback Korie Black from their practice squad.

The move comes as a bit of a surprise after star cornerback Sauce Gardner (groin) didn't receive an injury designation for Week 2. Starting nickel cornerback Michael Carter II is questionable with a shoulder injury, but is expected to play after practicing fully on Friday.

Black's elevation doesn't seem to be a response to injury woes in the Jets' cornerback room. Instead, his addition to the game-day roster this week will come at the expense of a different cornerback on the roster, quite possibly rookie third-round pick Azareye'h Thomas.

Thomas made his NFL debut on Sunday in the Jets' Week 1 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, playing 13 snaps, all on special teams. But with Black now elevated, the Jets are unlikely to have six active cornerbacks on Sunday. Thomas could be the odd man out.

Azareye'h Thomas could be a healthy scratch after latest Jets roster move

A three-year starter at Oklahoma State, Black was selected in the seventh round of this year's NFL Draft by the New York Giants. The 23-year-old flashed his upside in the summer but missed time due to an injury and was waived after initially making the 53-man roster.

The Giants expected Black to re-sign with their practice squad, but he spurned them for the Jets' practice squad in a decision that reportedly did not sit well with the Giants' organization.

The Jets added Black after losing cornerback Jarrick Bernard-Converse to the Cleveland Browns via waivers. The team needed additional boundary cornerback depth following JBC's departure, and just two weeks into the season, they're already dipping into those reserves.

The safe bet is to assume that either Thomas or Qwan'tez Stiggers will be a healthy scratch on Sunday. Neither Thomas nor Stiggers played any defensive snaps in Week 1, so it seems like this was probably more of a special teams decision than anything.

Stiggers has been one of the Jets' top gunners over the last two years, so he seems likelier to get the nod over Thomas, who did fill in as a gunner in Week 1 following Kene Nwangwu's injury. It's possible the Jets weren't thrilled with his performance.

The Jets curiously only had three cornerbacks play defensive snaps against the Steelers, partially a product of game flow. Malachi Moore was the only non-starting defensive back to see the field on defense, and he played just one defensive snap.

It remains to be seen how frequently the Jets will utilize six defensive back formations in 2025, but for now, they appear to be preparing a minor shake-up in their cornerback room. Thomas could be the one watching from the sidelines this weekend.

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