NY Jets Practice Squad and Waiver Wire Tracker 2024: Live updates and analysis

The NY Jets and the rest of the NFL may have finalized their initial 53-man rosters on Tuesday, but their work is far from over. The next 24-48 hours are arguably just as important for NFL rosters.

That's because teams will not only have the opportunity to place waiver claims to finish finalizing their Week 1 rosters but they'll also be able to start filling out their practice squads.

Teams will have until 12 pm ET on Wednesday to submit their waiver claims on any players eligible for waivers. The Jets are currently 10th in the waiver wire order, meaning they should be able to land a few players if they want to.

General manager Joe Douglas has unearthed some notable gems via the waiver wire during his time with the Jets. The likes of Quincy Williams, John Franklin-Myers, and even Braxton Berrios were all picked up as waiver-wire additions following final roster cuts.

The Jets may not have many glaring holes on their roster, but it's very possible they look to make an addition or two via waivers. Their initial 53-man roster is likely to change over the next couple of days.

The Jets will also begin to fill out their 16-man practice squad. Teams are able to have a maximum of six "veterans" on their practice squad and 10 players with two or fewer accrued service years.

Starting in 2024, every NFL team is also granted an extra 17th practice squad spot for an International Pathway Program (IPP) player. Offensive tackle Obinna Eze is the Jets' designated IPP player and is eligible for that practice squad spot.

This page will also be used to keep track of every waiver wire addition the Jets make, as well as any Jets players who are claimed by other teams and every Jets practice squad signing. You're going to want to bookmark this page.

We will be updating this tracker with live analysis for every move the Jets make, so be sure to check back frequently.

*Last Updated: Aug. 29, 2024 at 9:12 am ET*

NY Jets waiver wire additions

• TE Brenden Bates (via Chicago Bears)

We mentioned Brenden Bates as a potential target for the Jets earlier this morning. The Jets only kept two tight ends on their active roster, so a waiver wire addition to the position group always made sense.

An undrafted rookie out of Kentucky, Bates put together a fantastic summer, finishing as Pro Football Focus' highest-graded rookie tight end. Bates ranked second among all tight ends in the preseason with six catches for 100 yards.

At 6-foot-5, 255 pounds, Bates flashed his upside as both a receiver and blocker this summer. He's a very welcome addition to the Jets' 53-man roster.

*Update: The Jets have waived wide receiver Jason Brownlee in a corresponding move. Brownlee feels like a safe bet to return to the practice squad if he clears waivers.

Former NY Jets claimed on waivers

• CB Shemar Bartholomew (Carolina Panthers) - SOURCE

One of the Jets' most impressive players from the preseason, undrafted rookie Shemar Bartholomew is headed to Carolina. The Jets really wanted to re-sign the young Georgia Southern product to their practice squad, per source, but it always seemed unlikely that he'd clear waivers.

Bartholomew was PFF’s eighth-highest-graded cornerback in the preseason, allowing just two catches for a total of zero yards on nine targets. He was never going to be able to earn a spot in a loaded Jets cornerback room, but he deserves a place on a 53-man roster somewhere.

This is an unfortunate loss for the Jets. Bartholomew showed a ton of promise this summer.

NY Jets practice squad signings

• OL Jake Hanson - SOURCE

Jake Hanson felt like a strong candidate to make the Jets' 53-man roster going into the summer, but an untimely injury forced him to miss valuable practice time and the first two preseason games.

Hanson quietly held his own when thrust into a starting role following a slew of injuries last year and offers important guard/center versatility. He was a top priority to re-sign to the practice squad and will likely be seen on the active roster at some point this season.

• WR Brandon Smith - SOURCE

Former UFL standout Brandon Smith made a strong push for a roster spot this summer with an outstanding preseason but wasn't able to beat out the likes of Jason Brownlee and Irv Charles.

Smith was the only player in the NFL this summer to haul in 100 percent of his contested catch opportunities (min. 4 targets). He's a really fun developmental X receiver who honestly might have deserved a spot on the 53-man roster. The Jets are fortunate he wasn't claimed.

• SAF Jaylen Key - SOURCE

This year's Mr. Irrelevant selection and the only member of the Jets' 2024 NFL Draft class to be waived as part of final roster cuts, Jaylen Key is sticking around on the practice squad.

Key always seemed like a longshot to make a crowded Jets safety room, but he will have the opportunity to continue his development on the practice squad. This was an obvious move for the Jets to make.

• RB Xazavian Valladay - SOURCE

The Jets opt to bring back the speedy Xazavian Valladay on their practice squad for another year. The Arizona State product spent his rookie season on the Jets' practice squad and now has another opportunity to continue his development.

Valladay entered the summer with an outside chance to push Israel Abanikanda for the RB4 job. Abanikanda's strong preseason ended those hopes, but Valladay sticks around on the practice squad for the time being.

I can see the Jets making a move here if Abanikanda is cut in the future. That could mean the Brooklyn native takes Valladay's place on the practice squad.

• OL Kohl Levao - SOURCE

The Jets retain one of their top offensive line standouts from the summer. Kohl Levao finished the preseason with an excellent 77.7 Pro Football Focus grade after joining the Jets in the spring.

The former UFL standout garnered interest from multiple teams, per source, but ultimately decided to stick with the Jets. Another really strong addition to the Jets' practice squad.

• SAF Lewis Cine - SOURCE

One of the most high-profile players released as part of final roster cuts, Lewis Cine is a massive pickup for the Jets. The former Minnesota Vikings safety was a first-round pick just two years ago, but injuries have derailed his career.

Cine appeared in just three games as a rookie before suffering a major leg injury. He returned in 2023 and played just seven games, almost exclusively on special teams, before being waived as part of final roster cuts this summer.

The former Georgia star will look for a fresh start in New York, joining a defense that now hosts 10 former first-round picks. This will be the most high-profile addition to the Jets' practice squad.

*Update: Lewis Cine has reportedly changed his mind and is signing with the Buffalo Bills practice squad*

• LB Sam Eguavoen - SOURCE

The Jets bring back one of their core special-teamers from a year ago as Sam Eguavoen is signed to the practice squad. This was an obvious move for the Jets and it's likely we will see Eguavoen quite a bit this year.

The veteran linebacker appeared in 15 games for the Jets in 2023, playing 70 percent of the team's special teams snaps. Don't be surprised if he's elevated to the active roster for Week 1. Eguavoen is a favorite of special teams coordinator Brant Boyer.

*Every signing listed below was released in an official statement by the Jets*

• OT Obinna Eze

The Jets signed Obinna Eze to their practice squad late last year and made him their designated International Pathway Program (IPP) player this offseason.

Eze is the unofficial 17th player on the Jets' practice squad. He is not eligible to be signed to the active roster but can be elevated three times during the season.

• TE Anthony Firkser

The Jets bring back some much-needed tight end depth, adding Anthony Firkser as one of the designated veteran players on their practice squad.

Firkser has experience as a fullback, tight end, and H-back and could see time on the active roster at some point this season. With plenty of NFL experience, Firkser is a quality addition to the practice squad.

• DT Bruce Hector

Bruce Hector has quietly performed well when given the opportunity in the preseason with the Jets over the last few years. This was his third summer with the Jets, and he returns to the practice squad once again.

Hector appeared in two regular-season games for the Jets in 2023 and provides reliable veteran insurance at defensive tackle. Unfortunately, this means fan-favorite Tanzel Smart misses out.

• DL Jalyn Holmes

Jalyn Holmes might have been able to crack the 53-man roster in a less talented defensive line room. Instead, he returns to the practice squad, where he spent much of last season.

Much like Hector, Holmes is a well-traveled veteran who appeared in a handful of games for the Jets in 2023. He offers inside/outside versatility and could see time on the active roster if a player like Micheal Clemons were to miss time.

• TE Zack Kuntz

The Zack Kuntz experiment continues as the Jets re-sign the uber-athletic tight end to their practice squad for a second consecutive season. Kuntz spent his rookie season on the practice squad, appearing briefly in the team's season finale.

The former Penn State recruit is a work in progress as an actual tight end, but the Jets still see developmental upside in his physical traits. He's likely behind Firkser on the depth chart.

• QB Adrian Martinez

The reigning UFL MVP joins the Jets' practice squad after beating out undrafted rookie Andrew Peasley for the temporary QB3 job. With Jordan Travis still a ways away from returning, Martinez is the third quarterback on the depth chart for the foreseeable future.

The former Nebraska recruit showcased his playmaking abilities in the preseason and is an important depth piece for a Jets team that can use another quarterback.

• LB Marcelino McCrary-Ball

Marcelino McCrary-Ball returns to the practice squad after spending most of the 2023 season there as well. The former 49ers preseason favorite appeared in two games for the Jets last year, playing exclusively on special teams.

McCrary-Ball joins Sam Eguavoen as one of two linebackers on the Jets' practice squad. The Jets have virtually the exact same linebacker room that they did a year ago.

• WR Lance McCutcheon

Lance McCutcheon was a preseason darling for the Los Angeles Rams in 2022 when he led the NFL in receiving yards that summer. He wasn't able to repeat that magic this preseason, but he clearly showed enough to warrant a practice squad spot.

It's possible the Jets could let McCutcheon go if Jason Brownlee clears waivers and re-signs with the team. For now, McCutcheon enters his second season on the Jets' practice squad.

• SAF Jarius Monroe

The only member of the Jets' undrafted rookie class to be signed to their practice squad, Jarius Monroe flashed his upside this preseason and warrants additional developmental looks.

Monroe is a converted cornerback with great size and physicality. The Jets notably did not announce Lewis Cine as part of their initial practice squad, so it's possible Monroe is cut to make room for the former Vikings first-round pick in the near future.

• CB Kendall Sheffield

The Jets decided to keep two cornerbacks around on their practice squad after losing Shemar Bartholomew via waivers to the Carolina Panthers. The first of which is former Ohio State star Kendall Sheffield.

Sheffield was a former five-star recruit who was seen as a potential first-round pick, but his career never took off. Now on his sixth different team, Sheffield was able to earn a roster spot despite only joining the Jets last month.

He offers important depth at nickel cornerback.

• CB Tre Swilling

One of the more under-the-radar standouts from the Jets preseason, Tre Swilling put together an excellent summer and is a solid get for the practice squad. Swilling finished with a PFF coverage grade of 85.6, allowing just one catch for three yards on five targets this summer.

The former Georgia Tech standout joined the Jets earlier this month and is the son of former NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Pat Swilling.