New York Jets Practice Squad and Waiver Wire Tracker 2026: Live updates and analysis

The New York Jets, along with every other NFL team, trimmed their rosters down to 53 players on Sunday. But roster cutdown day is really just the beginning, folks. The next couple of days are arguably just as important as the initial deadline.

Over the next 24-48 hours, teams will have the opportunity to continue reconstructing their depth charts through the waiver wire and by filling out their practice squads. The Jets are a team that seems likely to be active on the waiver wire this year.

Waiver claims must be submitted by 1 pm ET on Monday this year, and with the Jets sitting at No. 2 in the order, they’re in a strong position to scoop up talent that shakes free.

Last year, the Jets claimed a total of three players off waivers following roster cuts: TE Jelani Woods, LB Cam Jones, and OT Esa Pole. The Jets also lost CB Jarrick Bernard-Converse to the Giants via the waiver wire.

Beyond waiver claims, the Jets will also put together a 17-man practice squad, which can include up to six veterans (four or more accrued seasons) and 10 other players. The 17th spot can be used on an International Pathway Program player, such as OLB Paschal Ekeji.

This tracker will keep you updated on every Jets move, from waiver claims to practice squad signings to any players lost to other teams. Be sure to check back often as we provide LIVE updates and analysis over the next couple of days. Bookmark this page.

This is the ONLY practice squad and waiver wire tracker you will need!

*Last Updated: Aug. 31, 2025 at 11:58 pm ET*

TRENDING: New York Jets 53-Man Roster Cut Tracker 2026: Live updates and analysis

1. Jets waiver wire additions
2. Former Jets claimed on waivers
3. Jets practice squad signings
4. Jets practice squad news and analysis

Jets waiver wire additions

• K Blake Grupe (via Indianapolis Colts) - SOURCE

Blake Grupe figured to be the top kicker available following roster cuts, and the Jets wisely scooped him up after he lost a heated preseason battle to ex-Jet Spencer Shrader this summer.

Grupe spent 2.5 seasons with the Saints before finding a new home in Indianapolis last fall. The Notre Dame product made all 11 of his field-goal attempts, including a career-best 60-yarder, and all 10 of his extra points in five games with the Colts in 2025.

Grupe went 2-of-4 on field goals in the preseason, although he was reportedly the better of the two Colts kickers in training camp. Notably, Grupe has almost exclusively kicked indoors in his career, so that could be something to monitor.

Expect the Jets to release Jason Sanders — who missed an extra point and came up well short on a 54-yard field goal in the team's preseason finale — in a corresponding move.

• LB Trevin Wallace (via Carolina Panthers) - SOURCE

A third-round pick of the Carolina Panthers in the 2024 NFL Draft, Trevin Wallace has started 20 of 25 games over the last two seasons, although he never quite lived up to expectations.

Wallace was a surprise cut by the Panthers, who somewhat shockingly gave up on the 23-year-old linebacker after just two years. Sports Illustrated's Zach Roberts called his release "an absolute shocker," noting that the Kentucky product was in the mix to start this summer.

Wallace provides young, developmental linebacker depth to a Jets team that absolutely needed some, especially following the loss of Mykal Walker to the season-ending IR.

*UPDATE: The Jets have waived OL Kohl Levao in a corresponding move. This leaves the Jets with just eight total offensive linemen and one backup interior lineman (Jordan Meredith) on their 53-man roster. Levao could re-join the Jets' practice squad if he clears waivers.

*SECOND UPDATE: The Jets have released kicker Jason Sanders in another corresponding move. Aaron Glenn told reporters on Monday that Sanders would compete with Grupe for the kicker job, and Sanders has been re-signed to the practice squad for the time being.

Former Jets claimed on waivers

• QB Brady Cook (Miami Dolphins) - SOURCE

The Miami Dolphins have claimed former Jets UDFA Brady Cook off waivers in what might be the most surprising move of the day. Cook started four games down the stretch for the Jets last season, throwing two touchdowns and seven interceptions, while completing 57% of his passes.

The former Missouri starter didn't exactly look the part of an NFL-caliber quarterback last year and barely played in the Jets' final two preseason games, although he did notably outperform Bailey Zappe, so it's possible Miami saw something in him as a developmental option.

The Dolphins swapped out Quinn Ewers for Kyle McCord this weekend, and Cook gives the team another potential backup QB option. Cook was one of a whopping seven players Miami claimed off waivers.

Jets practice squad signings

Jets practice squad news and analysis

• LB Troy Reeder - SOURCE

The Jets' first practice squad signing is a notable one. Linebacker Troy Reeder has appeared in over 100 career games over the last seven years, almost entirely with the Los Angeles Rams.

The 31-year-old Reeder appeared in all 17 games for the Rams last season, playing 73% of the team's special teams snaps. He's also started 38 career games and instantly becomes the third-most reputable linebacker under contract with the Jets.

Consider this the Mykal Walker replacement. Don't be surprised if Reeder is elevated for Week 1 and promoted to the active roster before long. He will play a role this year, and his pedigree suggests he could be first in line to start if Demario Davis or Jamien Sherwood suffers an injury.

• OLB Nate Lynn - SOURCE

The Jets are able to sneak preseason darling Nate Lynn onto their practice squad following his standout summer. Lynn made a late push for a 53-man roster spot and would have had a stronger case had he been in camp for more than two weeks.

The former Lions UDFA led the Jets with six pressures and three sacks despite playing just two preseason games, finishing with an 86.5 PFF pass-rush grade that ranked fifth-best among qualified edge defenders.

For whatever reason, Lynn wasn't able to latch on with an NFL team until November of last year and spent much of the summer unemployed. This time, his summer dominance lands him an opportunity, due in part to his prior relationship with Aaron Glenn.

• CB Jordan Clark - SOURCE

Jordan Clark made a late push for a 53-man roster spot with an impressive preseason showing, but the undersized slot defender was always fighting an uphill battle. The son of Ryan Clark played 56 total college games across five years at Arizona State and Notre Dame and made six appearances with the Jets last season.

Clark finished second on the Jets with 14 total tackles and earned an excellent 80.7 PFF coverage grade in the preseason, also tying for the team lead with eight total run stops. He will serve as quality developmental nickel depth. The uncertain status of rookie D'Angelo Ponds makes his spot even more valuable.

• CB Mory Bamba - SOURCE

Rest easy, Jets fans. Mory Bamba likely isn't going anywhere. The Athletic's Zack Rosenblatt is reporting that Bamba was spotted at Jets practice on Monday, suggesting he's back on the team's practice squad.

Bamba was the breakout star of the Jets’ preseason opener, earning an impressive 89.1 PFF coverage grade while allowing just four catches for 54 yards on 10 targets.

Unfortunately, that would be the only preseason appearance for the BYU product. Bamba suffered a knee injury in that game and missed the remainder of the summer, although the fact that he wasn't waived with an injury designation suggests he's nearing a return.

Some were concerned the Jets might lose Bamba to another team, but this is still a player who turns 26 in November and was never even a full-time starter in college.

He’s an intriguing developmental cornerback with an excellent blend of size and speed, but the idea that he was a serious threat to be claimed elsewhere was probably overstated.

• CB Samuel Womack - SOURCE

Samuel Womack quietly put together an extremely impressive summer with the Jets, finishing as PFF's highest-graded cornerback by coverage grade (91.1) of the preseason.

Womack was targeted six times in coverage, allowing just two catches for eight yards and an absurdly low 2.8 passer rating when targeted. He also picked off a pass in the Jets’ second preseason game, capping an impressive summer for the former 49ers fifth-round pick.

Womack has appeared in nearly 50 career NFL games (including one with the Jets last year) and started eight games for the Colts in 2024, so he's not some random career practice-squad player. He was spotted at Jets practice on Monday, which essentially confirms he's back on the practice squad.

• WR Jamaal Pritchett - SOURCE

Jamaal Pritchett returned for his second summer with the Jets after spending all of the 2025 season on the team's practice squad. Unfortunately, he suffered an injury and was unable to participate in either of the Jets' final two preseason games.

Pritchett is an undersized but exciting return specialist who was working with the second-team offense prior to his injury. He was spotted at practice on Monday and appears to be back on the practice squad for a second season.

• WR Malik McClain - SOURCE

The Jets bring back their most intriguing developmental wide receiver from the summer, as UDFA Malik McClain presumably earns a practice squad spot after making a late push for the 53-man roster. McClain was spotted at practice on Monday, which should confirm his status.

McClain never finished with more than 450 yards in a season in college, but he's a former four-star recruit who posted an outstanding 9.92 RAS (Relative Athletic Score), due in part to a 4.46 40-yard dash time at 6-foot-4, 205 pounds.

The Arizona State product spent considerable time with the second-team offense and even made a couple of notable plays as a gunner on punt coverage. He was an obvious practice squad addition for the Jets.

• OG Marquis Hayes - SOURCE

The Jets bring back Marquis Hayes on their practice squad as quality interior offensive line depth. Hayes has spent each of the last two summers with the Jets, quietly emerging as arguably the team's top scout team offensive lineman.

Hayes was PFF's highest-graded Jets offensive lineman in the preseason, posting an excellent 85.2 grade that ranked sixth-best among all qualified guards (min. 70 snaps). He also posted a team-best 88.7 pass-block grade in last year's preseason.

Like others, Hayes was spotted on the field at practice on Monday, which suggests he's officially back on the practice squad.

• DL Jack Heflin - SOURCE

Jack Heflin was one of the more under-the-radar summer standouts on the Jets’ defensive line, flashing in training camp and making some plays in the preseason as well. Heflin finished with five pressures and seven run stops, both of which ranked second-best on the team.

The 2023 All-XFL selection has appeared in seven NFL games with four different teams since entering the league as an undrafted free agent out of Iowa back in 2021. He earned a practice squad spot with his impressive summer.

Heflin was spotted at practice on Monday, meaning he should be a member of the practice squad.

• WR Cam Camper - SOURCE

Cam Camper was a late addition to the Jets' summer roster, joining the team just before the start of August after a successful stint in the UFL under Orlando Storm head coach Anthony Becht.

Camper made some plays in the preseason and offers an intriguing blend of size and athleticism at 6-foot-3, 198 pounds. He was spotted at practice on Monday alongside his teammates, confirming his spot on the practice squad.

• DT Payton Page - SOURCE

Payton Page initially signed with the Jets as an undrafted free agent out of Clemson last year, appearing in four games for the team down the stretch. He returned this summer and did have his moments in the preseason, although he was always a roster longshot.

Page finished second on the Jets with five total pressures this summer, though his run defense left a lot to be desired. Still, he did enough to warrant another year on the practice squad. He was spotted at practice on Monday, which should suggest he's officially back with the team.

• QB Bailey Zappe - SOURCE

The Jets signed Bailey Zappe to a futures deal in January as a worthwhile flier on a young quarterback who had started (and won!) a handful of NFL games before. He technically entered OTAs competing with Cade Klubnik and Brady Cook for the QB2 job, although it was never a true competition.

Zappe was outplayed by Cook in the preseason and, quite frankly, didn't even look like someone the Jets should keep around on their practice squad. Nonetheless, with Cook now in Miami, the Jets will keep the former Patriots QB around for the time being.

Don't be surprised if the Jets search for alternatives in the future, but Zappe was with the team in camp and knows the system. That was enough for him to stick around it seems.

• RB Al-Jay Henderson - SOURCE

The Jets find their practice squad running back in former Buffalo standout Al-Jay Henderson. Henderson is a comactly built running back at 5-foot-9, 208 pounds who's rushed for over 1,800 yards over the last two seasons.

Curiously enough, Henderson never actually signed with an NFL team after going undrafted back in April, instead attending multiple rookie minicamps, including with the Jets. The New Jersey native stays local and lands his first NFL contract in unlikely fashion.

The Jets had three other undrafted rookie running backs in camp this summer, but all three (Chip Trayanum, Dominic Richardson, and Sam Scott) suffered injuries. That left the door open for Henderson — who remained on the Jets' radar after rookie minicamp — to claim the spot.

• OL Xavier Newman - SOURCE

The Jets bring back Xavier Newman as one of the veterans on their practice squad after he was mildly surprisingly included as part of final roster cuts this weekend. Newman spent the summer working as the Jets' second-team center but had snapping issues and ultimately lost that job to the newly acquired Jordan Meredith.

Still, Newman is an experienced backup who provides quality-enough guard depth on the practice squad. He's a low-end NFL-caliber backup interior offensive line option.

• OLB Paschal Ekeji - SOURCE

The Jets have designated edge rusher Paschal Ekeji as their official IPP player and the 17th player on their practice squad. NFL teams are permitted an additional practice squad spot for a player who entered the league through the International Player Pathway Program.

Ekeji was born in Lesotho, grew up in Nigeria, and played rugby in South Africa before joining the NFL's IPP program and eventually signing with the Jets in November of last year.

He predictably struggled in the preseason, as you'd expect from a guy who had never played an organized game of football in his life, finishing with a lowly 31.6 PFF grade. The Jets will continue developing him on their practice squad.

• LB Jaden Keller - SOURCE

Jaden Keller signed with the Jets following a successful tryout at rookie minicamp in May, and he put together some impressive performances in the preseason. Keller recorded a sack, a PBU, three run stops, and 10 total tackles working with the third-team defense.

The Tennessee native spent five years at Virginia Tech and is an intriguing athlete, posting an excellent 9.70 RAS (Relative Athletic Score). His performance this summer was impressive enough to convince the Jets to keep him around as developmental linebacker depth on the practice squad.

• K Jason Sanders - SOURCE

The Jets may have claimed kicker Blake Grupe off waivers, but head coach Aaron Glenn told reporters on Monday that the team plans to hold a competition between him and Jason Sanders for the starting kicker job in practice.

Sanders was demoted to the practice squad as a procedural move but could still be the Jets' Week 1 kicker if he beats out Grupe. One would assume Grupe would have the early edge in that competition, though.

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