NY Jets confirm Jordan Travis injury status for Week 1 and it's not great

The NY Jets knew they were drafting a developmental project when they used a fifth-round pick in this year's 2024 NFL Draft on Florida State quarterback Jordan Travis.

Travis was one of the most dynamic and exciting players in college football this past season before a devastating leg injury cut his college career short and derailed Florida State's season.

The Jets knew it would take Travis some time to rehab this offseason and the team never anticipated him playing as a rookie. Unfortunately, his rehab process is taking a bit longer than initially expected.

Jets head coach Robert Saleh told reporters on Tuesday that Travis will begin the season on an injury list, likely the Reserve/NFI list, due to unexpected delays in his rehab process. This means Travis will be sidelined for a minimum of four games to begin the year.

Should the NY Jets be concerned about the Jordan Travis injury?

Travis was a genuine Heisman candidate and seemed well on his way to leading his undefeated Florida State team to a College Football Playoff berth before his injury.

He still finished as the ACC Player of the Year, throwing for 20 touchdowns and just two interceptions while adding another seven touchdowns on the ground, but it's fair to say his injury tanked his draft stock.

While Travis likely wouldn't have been a first-round pick, many scouts believed the Florida native could've solidified himself as a Day 2 pick had he stayed healthy. The Jets were thrilled to land him as late as they did in this year's draft.

The team apparently believed Travis would be ready to return to the field sometime this summer, but there have been complications. It's unclear when Travis will return, but Saleh did tell reporters that the Jets hope he can be activated at some point during the 2024 season.

The good news is that this was always intended to be a redshirt year for the 24-year-old. Travis should spend his rookie season learning behind Aaron Rodgers and Tyrod Taylor in meetings and at practice. That was always the expected plan for him.

Of course, it would be beneficial for Travis to receive some actual live reps in practice this season. The Jets are hoping for a full offseason of development in 2025, but it would be nice to begin that development in his rookie year.

The Jets aren't overly concerned by Travis's extended rehab process. The team is hopeful he can return to the gridiron at some point over the next few months. But as always, it's never ideal for a young player, especially a quarterback, to miss an extended period of time.

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