NY Jets curiously elevate QB Chris Streveler for Sunday's game

Justin Fried

NY Jets, Chris Streveler / Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

The NY Jets announced a pair of roster moves ahead of their Week 8 clash with the New England Patriots on Sunday, one of which certainly raised a few eyebrows.

The Jets officially elevated offensive tackle Conor McDermott and quarterback Chris Streveler from the practice squad for this week's game. The McDermott move doesn't come as a surprise following the injury to Alijah Vera-Tucker.

Streveler, on the other hand, is an interesting decision, to say the least.

The addition of Streveler gives the Jets four quarterbacks on their active roster as he joins Zach Wilson, Joe Flacco, and Mike White as QB options for the team.

Why did the NY Jets elevate Chris Streveler from the practice squad?

At first glance, it's certainly a surprise to see the Jets elevate Streveler. Everyone's favorite preseason standout has been on the practice squad all season even when Wilson was forced to miss the first three games of the year.

Why elevate him now with all three quarterbacks healthy? The answer might have something to do with how New England fared in their Week 7 matchup with the Chicago Bears.

Bears quarterback Justin Fields notably ran all over the Patriots' defense, rushing for 82 yards and a touchdown in victory. When the Patriots faced the Baltimore Ravens earlier in the year, Lamar Jackson rushed for over 100 yards and a score.

There seems to be a common trend here, one that the Jets believe they can exploit. Expect to see at least a couple of offensive packages drawn up for Streveler this week.

It's something the Jets haven't put on tape to this point outside of the preseason which might pose a difficult challenge for a Patriots defense that seemingly struggles against mobile quarterbacks.

As ESPN's Rich Cimini noted, Streveler could also play some special teams as he did this summer. That gives the Jets just another reason to have him active on game day.

Chris Streveler raised some eyebrows with an electric preseason showing this summer, and now he might have the opportunity to showcase his talents on a much larger stage this Sunday.

Justin Fried

Justin Fried is an editor for FanSided who has over seven years of experience covering the NFL and various other sports. A diehard Jets fan since birth, Justin has served as the editor for The Jet Press since 2019, interviewing athletes such as Sauce Gardner, Curtis Martin, LaDainian Tomlinson, Joe Klecko, and many others. Justin has also worked closely with brands like Red Bull to help highlight the niche sectors of the sporting world. His four-part series on the sport of breaking remains one of his proudest pieces of work. In his spare time, Justin is an avid pro wrestling fan who is fortunate enough to have traveled to nearly 30 different countries.