Jets sign T'Vondre Sweat insurance in ex-Chief Amari McNeill

Coming into the 2026 season, the New York Jets' interior defensive line was viewed as a strength of the team. Just seven games into the year, they're already having to add reinforcements to a battered position.

After T'Vondre Sweat left this past Sunday's loss to the Miami Dolphins with a knee injury, the Jets signed some insurance onto their practice squad, bringing in former Kansas City Chiefs undrafted free agent Amari McNeill, per the team website.

After five years of college football split between Tennessee and Colorado, McNiell signed with the Chiefs shortly after the 2026 NFL Draft. He spent the entire summer with Kansas City and appeared in all three of the team's preseason games, recording four tackles and a sack.

He was waived as part of final roster cuts and had been a free agent since the start of the season. McNeill will now look to find a new home with a pathway to playing time on a banged-up Jets defensive line.

New York Jets' defensive line looking thin with multiple injuries

The exact severity of Sweat's injury has yet to be revealed, but considering the Jets felt the need to make an addition to their defensive line on Tuesday, it's safe to imagine they'll at least be without him for their Week 8 tilt with the Las Vegas Raiders.

With veteran David Onyemata still on injured reserve as he recovers from core muscle surgery, the Jets will be relying heavily on veterans Harrison Phillips, Jowon Briggs, and rookie Darrell Jackson Jr.

As good as Phillips and Briggs were for New York in 2025, both players have taken a massive step back in 2026. The former exciting trade acquisitions rank 102nd and 114th, respectively, in terms of overall grades from Pro Football Focus,

In terms of positive news, Jackson has been an incredibly pleasant surprise this season. Despite starting the year as the fifth defensive tackle on the depth chart and initially predicted to take a bit of a "redshirt" season, the Florida State prospect has arguably been the second-best interior defender for the Jets outside of Sweat.

We'll see just how much time Sweat ends up missing with his injury, and if guys like McNeill and Jack Heflin are able to fight their way into playing time with the struggles of Phillips and Briggs.

For the Jets' defense's sake, let's hope the former Tennessee Titans draft pick doesn't miss too much time.

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