NY Jets blocked from signing desired QB target

The NY Jets are looking to add a quarterback following the season-ending injury suffered by Aaron Rodgers on Monday night. It seems as though they had a preferred target, too. Unfortunately, they'll likely have to look elsewhere.

The Jets were reportedly interested in signing former Denver Broncos quarterback Brett Rypien off the Los Angeles Rams' practice squad, per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, before he was signed to their active roster on Wednesday.

The Rams placed rookie QB Stetson Bennett on the NFI list on Wednesday, leaving Rypien as the only backup quarterback under contract. While Los Angeles considered just elevating Rypien from the practice squad for Week 2, they instead decided to sign him to their active roster.

This prevented the Jets from signing Rypien, and, per ESPN's Rich Cimini, the team is now in a "holding pattern." It seems as though Rypien might have been the Jets' preferred quarterback choice.

Brett Rypien would have made sense for the NY Jets

Rypien was one of the most logical quarterback targets for the Jets, given his experience with offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett. The two spent time together last year in Denver, with Rypien making two starts for the Broncos.

In fact, of Rypien's three career NFL starts, two of them have come against the Jets. He led the Broncos to a 37-28 win over the Jets in 2020 and lost against Gang Green in Week 7 of last season.

The former Boise State standout has thrown for four touchdowns and eight interceptions in three career starts. He wouldn't exactly have been an exciting addition, but the Jets aren't looking for an exciting addition, either.

The Jets seem to be prioritizing a quarterback who has experience in Hackett's system. The team believes they'd be better off bringing in a backup who doesn't need to learn Hackett's notoriously complex offensive scheme.

That's partially why they're committed to rolling with Zach Wilson at quarterback. Wilson spent the entire offseason learning Hackett's system. It's also why Tim Boyle is on the roster.

That leaves players such as Chad Henne, Blake Bortles, Josh Johnson (trade), and Brandon Allen (trade) as potentially available quarterbacks who have played under Hackett in the past. Even Ryan Fitzpatrick crossed paths with Hackett during their time together in Buffalo.

For now, as Cimini said, the Jets are in a "holding pattern." Their possible top target is no longer available.