Jets players set to become free agents this offseason

Jets players set to become free agents this offseason

The Jets have entered their offseason and things could look quite different in New York for the 2024 season. Plenty of contributors from this past season are set to hit the open market and the Jets will have plenty of tough decisions to make regarding whether to bring those players back.

For now, we’ll simply run down the players set to become free agents this offseason. These players include multiple starters from this past season as well as the Jets’ team leader in sacks.

Jets place Duane Brown on injured reserve, sign Zack Kuntz

The Jets placed Duane Brown on injured reserve and signed tight end Zack Kuntz to the active roster.

The Jets placed offensive tackle Duane Brown on injured reserve for the second time this season. With only two games left, this ends Brown’s season and now brings into question Brown’s future in the NFL.

The Jets signed tight end Zack Kuntz to the active roster in a corresponding move. Kuntz, the Jets’ seventh-round draft pick, spent the entire season on the practice squad. With Jeremy Ruckert out with a concussion, Kuntz will serve as the No. 3 tight end Thursday behind Tyler Conklin and Kenny Yeboah.

The Jets gave Brown a two-year, $22 million contract before the 2022 season. Injuries limited him to just 15 starts of a possible 34. The 38-year-old is set to become a free agent and his recent laundry list of injuries will bring into question whether he will come back for a 17th season. Brown was one of the best left tackles of this generation, but a plethora of injuries such as his shoulder, back and groin derailed the last two years of what was a great career.

New York also added kicker Austin Siebert to the practice squad. With Greg Zuerlein questionable with a quad injury, Seibert provides insurance for Thursday. Seibert kicked in place of an injured Zuerlein in Week 2 against the Dallas Cowboys and made his only field goal attempt.

Jets to activate Duane Brown off injured reserve

Jets to activate Duane Brown off injured reserve

The Jets will be getting back Duane Brown this season after all. On the last day they had, the Jets activated the offensive tackle from injured reserve. He will be available to play Friday against the Miami Dolphins.

Brown was placed on injured reserve with a hip injury on September 24. The Jets opened the 21-day practice window for Brown on November 2. Thursday was the final day they had to bring Brown back onto the active roster. Had they chosen not to activate Brown, he would have remained on injured reserve for the rest of the season.

This allows the Jets to have both Brown and Billy Turner available in a week where Mekhi Becton could be a true game-time decision following his ankle injury Sunday, though Becton has been pushing to play. Becton was limited in practice Wednesday.

Look for the Jets to put Brown back at left tackle and Becton to right. The Jets are set to start their eighth different offensive line combination against the Dolphins.

The Jets also signed Xavier Newman to the active roster. He’ll start at right guard. Jake Hanson and Tanzel Smart were elevated from the practice squad. Chris Glaser, right week’s starter at right guard, was released.

Jets Wednesday injury report: Michael Carter looks unlikely for Friday, Duane Brown decision Thursday

Michael Carter II looks unlikely to play Friday while the Jets have to make a decision by Thursday on Duane Brown.

The Jets may have to try and stop Miami’s offense Friday without nickel cornerback Michael Carter II. After missing Sunday’s game against the Buffalo Bills, Carter is looking unlikely to play Friday against the Dolphins after missing practice Wednesday with a hamstring injury following him being listed as out during Tuesday’s walkthrough. It may be another week with Brandin Echols in the slot.

The other big story of the week involves offensive tackle Duane Brown (hip). The Jets have to make a decision on Brown by Thursday, as that is the final day of his 21-day practice window to be activated from injured reserve. If the Jets do not activate Brown Thursday, then he is out for the rest of the season. Brown has been listed as a full participant since having his window opened but it may be a 50/50 chance of him returning.

Mekhi Becton (ankle/knee) is pushing to play Friday but the injury was affecting him during Wednesday’s practice. He was limited Wednesday. He could be a game-time decision. The good news up front for New York is that the Jets should at least have Billy Turner available if need be. Turner practiced in full after missing time with a finger injury.

In terms of available players, everyone practiced in some capacity except for Carter and everyone who did practice was a full participant except for Becton and linebacker Sam Eguavoen (hip).

Jets Wednesday injury report: Practice window opened for Kenny Yeboah

The Jets opened the 21-day practice window for tight end Kenny Yeboah Wednesday, designating him for return from injured reserve.

The Jets returned to the practice field Wednesday as they prepare for Sunday’s key divisional game against the Buffalo Bills. One note from Wednesday is that the Jets opened the 21-day practice window for tight end Kenny Yeboah, who had been on injured reserve all season with a hamstring injury.

Yeboah was a full participant in practice Wednesday. When he returns, he could help on special teams with the Jets still having Tyler Conklin, C.J. Uzomah and Jeremy Ruckert available.

Sam Eguavoen (hip), Chazz Surratt (ankle) and Billy Turner (finger) all missed practice. Garrett Wilson popped up as a limited participant with an elbow injury.

Here’s the full injury report from Wednesday for the Jets.

Jets elevate Xavier Newman, Malik Taylor from practice squad for Week 10

Jets elevate Xavier Newman, Malik Taylor from practice squad for Week 10

The Jets elevated an offensive lineman from the practice squad, but it was not Rodger Saffold. It will be Xavier Newman getting the call-up once again. He and wide receiver Malik Taylor were elevated from the practice squad for Sunday’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders.

Newman is now a likely candidate to start at right guard with the Jets likely moving Max Mitchell to right tackle. Duane Brown and Billy Turner are both out for Sunday’s game. Brown was not activated from injured reserve this week while Turner is out with a finger injury.

This is the third elevation for Newman, the maximum allowed for a practice-squad player. If the Jets want to bring him up from the practice squad again, they have to sign him to the 53-man roster. Newman saw time at center against the Giants in Week 8 following injuries to Connor McGovern and Wes Schweitzer.

Taylor is being elevated for the second time this season. His first was last week against the Chargers. He caught one pass for seven yards in New York’s 27-6 loss last Monday.

Jets injury report: Duane Brown, Chazz Surratt, Billy Turner out for Week 10

Jets injury report: Duane Brown, Chazz Surratt, Billy Turner out for Week 10

The Jets will be without two offensive tackles for Sunday night against the Las Vegas Raiders. The Jets are not activating Duane Brown just yet while Billy Turner is out after getting surgery on his injured finger.

The result is a sixth different starting offensive line combination for the Jets in their ninth game this season. Most likely, the Jets will move Max Mitchell back to right tackle after he started at right guard last week against the Chargers while a new face will start at right guard. Rodger Saffold could get the start. The Jets will likely elevate the veteran from the practice squad.

Linebacker Chazz Surratt is also out as he will miss his second game with an injured ankle.

First-round pick Will McDonald suffered an ankle injury and was a late addition to the injury report, missing Friday’s practice, putting his status for Sunday up in the air. He is officially listed as questionable.

Mekhi Becton (knee), Allen Lazard (knee), Jeremy Ruckert (shoulder) and Quincy Williams (knee) were all full participants in practice Friday and are good to go for Sunday.

Raiders vs Jets final injury report: LT Kolton Miller Doubtful, CB Marcus Peters Questionable

Raiders vs Jets final injury report: LT Kolton Miller Doubtful, CB Marcus Peters Questionable

It looks like the Raiders will be without their starting left tackle Sunday when the Jets come to town. After missing the entire week of practices with a shoulder injury, Kolton Miller has been officially listed as Doubtful for the game.

The Raiders have a couple options to replace Miller at left tackle. They could move right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor over there which would mean Thayer Munford would start at right tackle. Or they could leave Eluemunor at right tackle and start Justin Herron at left tackle.

“Part of our process here the last couple of days is just ‘next man up’ mentality,” said interim head coach Antonio Pierce. “So, if it isn’t Kolton Miller, it’ll be the next gentleman up. Obviously, everybody’s been practicing the right way, so if that comes to fruition and we have to move on from Kolton to somebody else, we’re not going to blink, and they’re not going to blink. And we expect him to do the exact same job Kolton Miller does. And when Kolton Miller goes in here, and he’s in there, he’s going be Kolton Miller. So, we’re fine. No panic. Nobody’s over here worried about what’s going to happen with Kolton if he’s in or not.”

Technically speaking, the ‘next man up’ would be Justin Herron as he is listed as the backup left tackle on the team’s website.

Other Raiders whose status is uncertain include CB Marcus Peters and FB Jakob Johnson. Both are Questionable for the game.

The Jets will be without a couple tackles as well with Billy Turner and Duane Brown both officially OUT.

Jets injury report: Duane Brown not activated; Amos, Lazard questionable

Jets injury report: Duane Brown not activated; Amos, Lazard questionable

The final injury report is out for the New York Jets for their Week 9 showdown with the Los Angeles Chargers.

One of the key notes from the report is that offensive tackle Duane Brown was not activated quite yet from injured reserve. Brown did practice in full all week, but the Jets are going to give him one more week of rest. He will likely be activated next week.

Linebacker Chazz Surratt is also out for Sunday. He missed all week with an ankle injury. Rookie Zaire Barnes will likely be active for the first time this season as a result.

Two new additions appeared on the report Saturday. Safety Adrian Amos (ankle) and wide receiver Allen Lazard (knee) both suffered injuries and are both questionable for Monday.

Everyone else that was on the report — Mekhi Becton, Irvin Charles, Randall Cobb, Xavier Gipson, Joe Tippmann, Laken Tomlinson — all practiced in full Saturday and have no game designation for Monday. They are good to go.

Duane Brown to return to practice this week

Duane Brown will return to the practice field this week as the Jets will open his 21-day practice window.

Jets offensive tackle Duane Brown will return to practice this week, per head coach Robert Saleh.

The team will open Brown’s 21-day practice window this week, meaning the team can have Brown practice for up to 21 days before activating him from injured reserve.

The Jets will soon have to decide how to operate their offensive line, specifically at the two tackle positions. From the sounds of Saleh, the Jets may put Brown back at left tackle and move Mekhi Becton back to right tackle. Saleh said Becton would be good at left or right tackle.

“Where we are right now, we have to make sure the best five are on the field.”

Saleh sounded pretty clear that he believes Brown is one of the Jets’ best five, so it almost seems like a guarantee that Brown will be back in the starting lineup when he can return.

Saleh also hinted that Brown wasn’t 100 percent healthy at the start of the season and that the Jets may have rushed him back into action. He was on the physically unable to perform list for most of training camp. Saleh believed it is not going to take Brown long to return and that it likely won’t take the entire 21-day window for him to return.

When Brown returns, the Jets will have five offensive tackles: Brown, Becton, Max Mitchell, Billy Turner (who also played guard against the Giants) and Carter Warren.