Jets Transaction Roundup: Allen Lazard released, DBs land on IR in wild week of moves

It’s been a busy and eventful week for the New York Jets. On Monday, head coach Aaron Glenn made the somewhat surprising decision to fire defensive coordinator Steve Wilks with three games still remaining in the season.

The Jets also announced that undrafted rookie Brady Cook will remain the team’s starting quarterback moving forward, just hours after signing tight end Jeremy Ruckert to a two-year extension.

In addition, the Jets released a notable wide receiver, placed a veteran defensive back on injured reserve, and made several practice squad moves, including poaching a player from another team’s practice squad.

Let's break down all of the latest Jets transactions from the last couple of days, with detailed analysis for every move.

New York Jets transactions breakdown for Dec. 15-18

Jets place DB Isaiah Oliver on IR

The Jets placed safety Isaiah Oliver on the injured reserve on Monday after the veteran DB suffered a knee injury this past Sunday. Oliver played all 17 games for the Jets in 2024 and 14 games this season, serving a key role as a versatile backup defensive back.

The former Falcons second-round pick struggled for much of the season, both when he was used at safety and nickel cornerback. Expect to see plenty of undrafted rookie Dean Clark at safety over the final few weeks, especially with Andre Cisco and Tony Adams both sidelined as well.

Jets sign S Keidron Smith off Broncos practice squad

The Jets signed safety Keidron Smith off the Broncos' practice squad to take Oliver's place on the 53-man roster. An undrafted free agent out of Kentucky, Smith played nine games for the Broncos in 2024 following a standout performance in the preseason.

The 26-year-old was waived by the Broncos as part of final roster cuts this summer and later re-signed to the practice squad before he was signed by the Jets this week.

Smith has experience playing cornerback dating back to his college days and has shown a natural nose for the ball, recording seven interceptions over five college seasons and two more in three preseason games in 2024. He also crossed paths with Jets general manager Darren Mougey and special teams coordinator Chris Banjo in Denver.

Jets release WR Allen Lazard

Veteran wide receiver Allen Lazard reportedly requested his release this week, and the Jets didn't hesitate to grant it. Thus ends the longer-than-expected tenure of one of the worst free-agent signings in recent Jets history.

Lazard appeared in 10 games this season, hauling in 10 catches for 70 yards and a touchdown and serving a role as one of the team's top blocking receivers. That said, the Jets are undoubtedly better off giving his snaps to young receivers on the roster.

Say what you want about Lazard, but he somehow managed to outlast Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams in Florham Park. That has to count for something, right?

Jets sign OLB Ochaun Mathis to practice squad

The Jets signed former Los Angeles Rams edge rusher Ochaun Mathis to their practice squad on Tuesday. Mathis was a sixth-round pick of the Rams in the 2023 NFL Draft, although he lasted just one year with the team.

The Nebraska product has bounced around the league since then, as the Jets are the fifth team he's been signed to over the last 13 months. At 6-foot-5, 260 pounds, Mathis was twice named second-team All-Big 12 at TCU before transferring to Nebraska for his senior season.

The Jets are rather thin at edge rusher, with Tyler Baron now on IR and Eric Watts dealing with a concussion. Mathis joins veteran Kingsley Jonathan as depth pass rushers on the practice squad.

Jets release QB Adrian Martinez from practice squad

To make room for Mathis, the Jets released quarterback Adrian Martinez. Martinez rejoined the Jets practice squad just last week to serve as Brady Cook's backup, with Tyrod Taylor and Justin Fields both out due to injury.

Just a few days later, Martinez was released and has since re-signed with the San Francisco 49ers’ practice squad. Taylor is expected to return from injury in Week 16, while the Jets signed former Detroit Lions third-round pick Hendon Hooker (more on him in a moment) to serve as their new practice squad quarterback.

Martinez's return to Florham Park was brief, but he's probably thrilled to be back in San Francisco as his team prepares for a playoff run.

Jets sign S Jarius Monroe to 53-man roster

The Jets had an open roster spot following the Lazard release, and they filled it by signing defensive back Jarius Monroe off their practice squad. Monroe briefly transitioned to cornerback in the summer and made a strong push for a 53-man roster spot before suffering an untimely injury in the final preseason game.

The Jets re-signed Monroe to their practice squad in early November, even elevating him for a game later that month. Now, he's back on the active roster, with a potential for a sizable role down the stretch.

The Jets placed both Isaiah Oliver and Tony Adams on IR this week, leaving the team very thin at safety. Monroe will compete for playing time alongside rookie Malachi Moore, UDFA Dean Clark, and the newly signed Keidron Smith.

Jets sign S Jaylen Mahoney to practice squad

With Oliver and Adams both sidelined for the remainder of the season, the Jets added a little more safety depth in the form of practice squad signee Jaylen Mahoney.

Mahoney was signed by the 49ers as an undrafted free agent out of Vanderbilt last year, and he went on to appear in three games — playing exclusively on special teams — as a rookie. He returned to San Francisco's practice squad in 2025 but was released last month.

Mahoney put some good film on tape in the preseason over the last two years, including a diving interception this past August and a stellar 81.0 Pro Football Focus grade. He gives the Jets extra depth in a suddenly razor-thin safety room.

Jets place S Tony Adams on IR

Jets head coach Aaron Glenn ruled out safety Tony Adams due to a groin injury on Wednesday, and one day later, the team placed him on season-ending injured reserve in a move that could effectively end his Jets career.

Adams was briefly benched for rookie Malachi Moore earlier this season but soon returned to the starting lineup following an injury to Andre Cisco. The former UDFA has started 35 games for the Jets over the last three years, but most would probably agree it might be time to move on.

Adams isn’t a starting-caliber NFL safety, and he hasn’t offered much value on special teams either, playing just 9%, 11%, and 16% of special-teams snaps over the last three seasons, respectively. He’s set to be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, and the Jets are unlikely to bring him back.

Jets sign DT Payton Page to 53-man roster

The Jets signed rookie defensive tackle Payton Page to their active roster to take Adams' place. Page was previously elevated on two different occasions this season, playing just five defensive snaps and recording zero other statistics.

Page's addition is an interesting one, as it gives the Jets six defensive tackles on their 53-man roster. Mazi Smith has been a regular healthy scratch in recent weeks, and one has to wonder if one of Jay Tufele or, more likely, Khalen Saunders will join him now that Page has been signed.

The Jets likely want to get a closer look at young players like Page, which could mean that Saunders (or Tufele) is the odd man out. Page was a one-year starter at Clemson who made some plays for the Jets this summer.

Jets sign QB Hendon Hooker to practice squad

Hendon Hooker replaces Adrian Martinez as the team's de facto third-string practice squad quarterback, assuming that Justin Fields doesn't play another snap for the Jets — which feels like a fair assumption, at this point.

Hooker spent last season as Jared Goff's backup in Detroit and was a third-round pick of the Lions in 2023, giving him familiarity with both head coach Aaron Glenn and offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand.

At the very least, the former Tennessee standout is a worthwhile developmental quarterback with experience in a similar offensive system. It would take a lot for him to see the field this season, but with the Jets, you can never completely rule it out.