NY Jets: Predicting the 53-man roster and 16-player practice squad

The 2021 NY Jets regular season is nearly upon us. The adage, out with the old and in with the new, takes on added meaning this year. Not only did the Jets completely revamp their coaching staff, but they have one of the youngest rosters in all of football. 

The average age of the Jets players is 24-years-old. The nickname 'Gang Green' has never been more fitting than this season.

The team currently has 18 rookies and 29 second and third-year players. Several of the Jets' starters and key contributors in 2021 will be playing in their first and second years in the league. There are only five players on the Jets that are 30 years of age or older. 

So while the preseason is seen as evil by most because of potential key injuries, the greenness of the green and white made preseason games a necessary evil.

It will be harder now than ever to pare down the Jets roster because there are so many unproven players to choose from. 

New Flexible Roster Rules

A year ago, there were no preseason games. But in 2021, the NFL's new flexible roster rules from a year ago return with some added wrinkles.

The roster rules allow teams to call up two players every week from the practice squad. That's 55 players, not 53. An aspect that most pundits and experts overlook. 

There's also another loophole in the rules safeguarding a team's ability to protect and have more players readily available.

NFL teams are allowed to protect four players on their 16-player practice squad every week. So you can stash certain players on the practice squad and not have to worry about losing them to other teams.

You can also elevate an additional practice squad player within 90 minutes before kickoff in the event of a late COVID-19 positive test result. 

The workaround gives a team like the Jets the ability to technically have 57 players on their weekly roster. That added wrinkle coupled with the fact that teams can include up to six players on their practice squad who have more than two accrued seasons gives teams more roster protection and flexibility. 

The option to have veteran players on the practice squad is a great one, especially at the quarterback position. All it takes is one player testing positive for COVID in the QB room, and it can wipe out your entire game-day options at the position.

See the Denver Broncos situation from last year, where current Jets QB coach Rob Calabrese petitioned himself to be the team's emergency quarterback but to no avail. 

There's an additional roster rule that will help teams during the long regular season. Players placed on injured reserve can return after three weeks rather than six as in normal seasons.

There is also the removal of the cap for how many players can be activated from injured reserve. It will be easier for teams to stash and return players on IR than in years past. 

So with all the new rules in place and the newness of the Jets roster. Let's try to predict who the team will keep on their regular-season active and practice squad roster. 

It's worth noting that the Jets have the second pick in the waiver order and could be active when roster cuts occur. So the players who initially make the final roster could have a temporary stay.

Plus, with all the team's draft capital, you can't rule out Joe Douglas swinging some deals for an edge rusher to replace Carl Lawson or an interior offensive lineman to shore up the team's depth. 

NY Jets quarterbacks

• Zach Wilson, Mike White (2)

A lot can happen between now and the regular season, and there's no guarantee that the Jets stand pat with their current backup options when the preseason ends and final cuts are made.

But based on merit and performance, Mike White has been the Jets' second-best quarterback in camp.

The team has afforded Mike White and James Morgan the entire offseason and summer to get reps and acclimated to Mike LaFleur's offense.

Both young players have practice squad eligibility, and that could be their destination during the season. But for now, the edge goes to Mike White.

The Jets season is all about Zach Wilson and his development. Any other quarterback taking snaps during the regular season is a scenario that Jets fans don't want to envision or contemplate.

Keeping two quarterbacks on the 53 seems risky, but the flexible roster rules make this a likelihood and a necessity. 

NY Jets running backs

• Michael Carter, Tevin Coleman, Ty Johnson, La'Mical Perine (4)

Before the new 17-game season ends, you could see five or even six different runners toting the rock for the Jets. It's the reality of the nicks and bruises that occur during a long year.

Weekly game plans could have all of Gang Green's active runners involved in some capacity. For that reason, I envision the Jets keeping four running backs on their 53-man roster.

Each running back on this list brings something different to the table. Coleman brings experience and leadership to the Jets' new offensive scheme.

Carter and Johnson are similar finesse backs with superb one-cut ability and great open-field vision. They are also formidable pass catchers. Johnson has elite speed and brings value in the return game as well.

Before minicamp began, it appeared that La'Mical Perine could be the odd man out in this backfield. But a strong summer has cemented his job. Perine has looked good in the new system and has more value as a power runner than his counterparts on the team.

NY Jets wide receivers

• Corey Davis, Elijah Moore, Jamison Crowder, Denzel Mims, Keelan Cole, Braxton Berrios, Vyncint Smith (7)

The Jets are banking on Corey Davis being Zach Wilson's No. 1 target during the season. And the new pair is off to an excellent start, judging by their in-game performances in the preseason. Davis is coming off of his best season as a pro in Tennessee, and the Jets feel that he is an ascending player. 

The Jets dodged a bullet when summer sensation Elijah Moore's quad injury turned out not to be as serious as once feared.

This summer, Moore has looked like a superstar and could be one of the most exciting players on the entire roster to watch. Expect him to play all over the place, outside, inside, and in motion.

The Jets will be utilizing their receivers all over the field, but they have several options in the slot. Their most reliable player in that regard is Jamison Crowder.

He will be the subject of trade talks all season, but Zach Wilson is lucky to have the trustworthy Crowder to throw to.

Denzel Mims has a ton of upside as a deep threat and playmaker in this offense. He's in a crowded receiver room, but it won't be easy to keep him off the field.

Keelan Cole and Braxton Berrios provide excellent back-end depth and special teams versatility. Cole can play everywhere at receiver and return kicks and punts.

Vyncint Smith is player No. 50-53 on the active roster. He could very easily miss the cut and end up on the team's practice squad, depending on what areas of the team are thin heading into the season.

But Smith has value as not only a deep threat but as a kick returner and gunner on special teams. 

NY Jets tight ends/fullback

• Tyler Kroft, Chris Herndon, Ryan Griffin, Trevon Wesco (4)

This could be the area where a surprise cut or two occurs. For months now, there have been hints about how Mike LaFleur's offense will closely resemble his brother Matt's in Green Bay, more so than the one of Kyle Shanahan's in San Francisco.

Look for the Jets to utilize their tight ends and fullback position in a similar way that the Packers do, as interchangeable blockers in motion, on the edge, and as leads.

Just because there are only four players listed on the 53-man roster here doesn't mean that the Jets won't utilize their practice squad to elevate an additional tight end to their weekly roster. More on that later. 

A lot like the Jets running back position, tight end could be a committee approach. The early signs for Tyler Kroft, who has had durability issues in the past, are promising. He can be a factor in the red zone if he stays healthy.

Will Chris Herndon remain on the team? He probably will because of his talent, but it hasn't translated on the field consistently for quite some time. 

Ryan Griffin is one of the team's smartest and toughest players. He provides value in the run and passing game as a blocker. But his age could work against him if the Jets decide to go with a younger player at the position.

Trevon Wesco has a chance to break out as one of the team's best role players. The Jets do not have another player like him on their roster. So if he were to get hurt, it would affect the team in a few different areas.

NY Jets' offensive line

• Connor McGovern, Greg Van Roten, Alijah Vera-Tucker, Mekhi Becton, Morgan Moses, George Fant, Dan Feeney, Chuma Edoga, David Moore (9)

I would pencil in Chuma Edoga as the Jets' active roster player at this moment. He is expected to be ready to go when the season rolls around, but I wouldn't feel safe about my roster spot if I were Edoga.

Because of Conor McDermott's knee injury, which could sideline him for a long time, the Jets might have to work the waiver wire or explore a trade for, ideally, a veteran backup swing guard/tackle.

The Jets' depth on their offensive line has been tested all summer. Alex Lewis retired, Cameron Clark suffered a neck injury, and both Chuma Edoga and McDermott have now been injured.

The back end of the Jets roster on the offensive line has several candidates for the practice squad, and don't be surprised if several of them end up on the active roster as the season progresses.

David Moore could make the main roster temporarily to sure up depth on the interior. He has upside as a potential future starter, but in a perfect world, he starts the season on the practice squad, and he might.

It's always dicey dressing only eight offensive linemen for a game. New York could choose to do that during the course of the season.

So expect one of the two Jets' weekly elevations from the practice squad to potentially be an extra offensive lineman. I have the Jets keeping nine players on the offensive line to start the season.

New York has three quality tackles in Becton, Moses, and Fant but their depth inside is worrisome. Feeney can play guard and center, but the team can't afford injuries to Connor McGovern or Greg Van Roten.

Alijah Vera-Tucker, who has yet to debut in a Jets uniform, is one of the top five most important players on the roster. Vera-Tucker needs to be healthy and to play at a high level for this group to succeed.

NY Jets specialists

• Matt Ammendola [K], Braden Mann [P], Thomas Hennessy [LS] (3)

The Jets are locked in at punter and long snapper. The hope is that rookie kicker Matt Ammendola continues to impress. Barring a collapse in the final preseason game, it looks like he will be kicking for the Jets in Week 1 at Carolina.

Don't be surprised if the Jets carry a kicker at some point on their practice squad to keep Ammendola's seat warm as added insurance if he falters.

Last season, many NFL teams carried an extra kicker on their practice squad to safeguard against injury and the pandemic. Because of Sam Ficken's injury last season, the Jets carried an extra kicker in reserve throughout much of the season.

NY Jets defensive linemen

• John Franklin-Myers, Quinnen Williams, Sheldon Rankins, Folorunso Fatukasi, Ronald Blair, Bryce Huff, Jonathan Marshall, Hamilcar Rashed Jr. (8)

The Jets have a weak spot at the defensive end position. With Carl Lawson out for the season, Joe Douglas will be working the phones. Vinny Curry is expected to start the season on the team's PUP list, so he could miss the early part of the season.

The question is, who will the Jets retain at defensive end if they don't acquire an edge rusher in the coming days. Bryce Huff and Ronald Blair are locked in to make the roster, but Hamilcar Rashed Jr. might temporarily end up on the active 53 by default.

One of the team's true breakout candidates is John Franklin-Myers. He is hurt by not having Lawson on the other side, but Gang Green is happy about his prospects this coming season.

The Jets have plenty of depth inside at defensive tackle, but they desperately need a healthy Williams/Rankins duo to generate a pass rush.

In theory, because the team no longer plays the 3-4, the Jets could carry as many as nine defensive linemen. Nathan Shepherd is good enough to be on any NFL roster as a quality backup defensive tackle, but the numbers game could squeeze him out.

NY Jets linebackers

• C.J. Mosley, Blake Cashman, Hamsah Nasirildeen, Jamien Sherwood, Camilo Eifler (5)

The recent injury suffered by Jarrad Davis puts a major dent in the Jets' plans at linebacker. Davis injured his ankle in the team's Week 2 preseason game against Green Bay and will be out for two months.

Don't be surprised if the Jets add another linebacker in the coming days or when final cuts occur.

There's a chance that the team carries only five linebackers on the 53, but the Jets are awfully thin at this position. The Jets need C.J. Mosley to carry this group with his veteran leadership. The returning stalwart linebacker is in phenomenal shape and is on a mission to recapture his previous form.

Most people raised their eyebrows when the Jets drafted two safety converts and moved them to linebacker. But low and behold, both Hamsah Nasirildeen and Jamien Sherwood could be rookie starters in the Jets front seven come Week 1 at Carolina.

Blake Cashman needs to show that he can be durable. Cashman has the skill set to play in Jeff Ulbrich's defensive scheme as a three-down backer, but he has a lot to prove this year.

Camilo Eifler has had a good summer and the undrafted rookie out of Illinois could sneak on the active roster because of the injury status to Davis.

A veteran like Noah Dawkins or Edmond Robinson could take his spot because of their experience. If that happens, a trip to the practice squad seems possible for Eifler.

NY Jets defensive backs

• Bryce Hall, Blessuan Austin, Javelin Guidry, Michael Carter II, Jason Pinnock, Brandin Echols, Justin Hardee, Marcus Maye, Lamarcus Joyner, Sharrod Neasman, J.T. Hassell (11)

The Jets are expected to open the season without safety Ashtyn Davis, who is a candidate to start the year on the PUP. The Jets defensive coaching staff could carry only one backup safety, but Neasman and Hassell both provide excellent special teams value.

The team could carry as many as seven players at cornerback on the active roster. Justin Hardee is a lock as the Jets elite gunner for Brant Boyer's special teams. Locking in the other cornerbacks is no simple feat, and those who lose their main roster spot could be headed to the team's practice squad. 

In this projection, Isaiah Dunn and Lamar Jackson just miss the cut.

Hall, Austin, and Guidry are expected to be the team's top three starters in Week 1 on the outside at cornerback and in the slot.

Waiting in the wings behind them are three rookie draft picks in Michael Carter II, Jason Pinnock, and Brandin Echols. By the time the season progresses, anyone of all of the players in this group could be starting. It all depends on how the projected starters perform.

The Jets staff would love more time to define who their best starting group is at cornerback, but they may not know for that for quite some time until the real games start and the season progresses.

The final breakdown of the NY Jets active roster: 26 offense, 24 defense, and 3 on special teams.

NY Jets practice squad

• James Morgan [QB], Josh Adams [RB], Lawrence Cager [WR], Jeff Smith [WR], Daniel Brown [TE], Kenny Yeboah [TE], Corey Levin [OL], Tristen Hoge [OL], Isaiah Williams [OL], Jabari Zuniga [DE], Nathan Shepherd [DT], Noah Dawkins [LB], Edmond Robinson [LB], Isaiah Dunn [CB], Lamar Jackson [CB], Bennett Jackson [DB] (16)

Injuries will dictate which two players get called up every week to expand the roster from 53 to 55 on game day.

Tight end Daniel Brown seems like a safe bet because he is one of Brant Boyer's best players on special teams.

If, for whatever reason, after preseason action concludes, the Jets still have high hopes in James Morgan as a developmental quarterback, storing him on the practice squad makes sense because the Jets have the ability to protect four players on their reserve roster every week from being poached by opposing teams.

So, if the Jets still have a love affair with their 2020 fourth-round pick, Joe Douglas won't have to risk losing Morgan if the team chooses to protect him.

In theory, the Jets could carry another QB on their practice roster like veteran Josh Johnson. It's a role the journeyman quarterback played for the 49ers last year when Mike LaFleur was in San Francisco.

Having a veteran around in the quarterback room all year long could help the Jets' inexperienced quarterback group.

Some of the candidates to be protected weekly Jets' are Morgan, Brown, Yeboah, Hoge, Shepherd, and Dunn. New York can protect up to four each week.

One of the overlooked factors behind the scenes is a player's option to pass on being on your team's practice squad.

A young veteran like Nathan Shepherd could decide to look for a change of scenery after being waived during final cuts, turn down the practice squad spot, and land elsewhere.

Corey Levin has veteran experience on the pivot and guard and could make for a decent option for elevation if injuries occur.

Offensive lineman Tristen Hoge is an intriguing developmental project that could get onto the main roster before long. Isaiah Williams is a recent pickup by the Jets on the heels of Conor McDermott's injury. Williams spent time with line coach John Benton on the 49ers' roster last season.

Josh Adams would be the Jets' reserve option at tailback. He will truly be the first man-up candidate if any injuries occur in the Jets backfield.

At wide receiver, Lawrence Cager and Jeff Smith have shown some good things as young players, and the Jets could keep them around. D.J. Montgomery misses the cut, but he is also a legitimate candidate. He spent time last year on the Jets' practice squad.

2020 third-round pick Jabari Zuniga has fallen pretty far off the radar, and there's a chance that he doesn't remain with the Jets, despite the team's issues currently at defensive end.

The Jets will need some depth at linebacker, particularly with the team only carrying five or six linebackers. Noah Dawkins and Edmond Robinson make sense to remain in reserve.

Robinson is an outstanding special teams player, has experience with defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, and can play on the strong side and in the middle at linebacker if needed.

The Jets have high hopes for undrafted rookie cornerback Isaiah Dunn, but it will be difficult for the team to carry eight cornerbacks on the 53-man roster.

Dunn could easily make it, but he could be a protected practice squad player if he doesn't. Javelin Guidry started the 2020 season in the same spot.

Lamar Jackson, like Guidry, also started 2020 on the practice squad. He could be headed there again. Jackson has had a good enough summer to make the main roster, and he still might, but if he does, it could come at the expense of one of the Jets' 2021 draft picks at defensive back.

Bennett Jackson is used to being a yo-yo, swinging back and forth the last few years on and off the practice squad and active roster. The reason for it is his versatility and value on special teams.

If you are a Jets player on the fringe of making the roster, hold on tight. The bottom end of New York's roster figures to have multiple changes before and leading into Week 1 of the 2021 season.

The uncertainty and unknowns attached to this coming Jets season reflect the movement that will take place on the back end of the team's roster.