Tag: zaire barnes

Jets sign Xavier Newman to active roster, place Zaire Barnes on injured reserve

A few roster moves from the Jets ahead of their Week 15 trip to Miami.

The Jets made a few roster moves Saturday ahead of their Week 15 game against the Miami Dolphins. Offensive lineman Xavier Newman was signed to the active roster while rookie linebacker Zaire Barnes was placed on injured reserve.

Newman is back from injury and the Jets had exhausted his practice-squad elevations for the season — a player can be elevated three times and revert to the practice squad before a team has to sign him to the 53-man roster. Newman will likely start at right guard Sunday in Miami.

Barnes being placed on injured reserve with four weeks left means his rookie season is over. Barnes appeared in three games this season and was inactive for the other ten. Barnes was the Jets’ sixth-round pick back in April and was among five linebackers to make the initial 53-man roster after training camp.

The Jets also elevated two players from the practice squad for Sunday: defensive lineman Jalyn Holmes and linebacker Marcelino McCrary-Ball. Both are being elevated for the second time this season. Holmes will play in his second straight game while McCrary-Ball was elevated for the Week 11 game in Buffalo.

6 Jets to watch in preseason Week 2 vs. Buccaneers

The Jets face the Buccaneers in Week 2 of the preseason and we have 6 players to watch in Saturday’s matchup.

After holding joint practices with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this week, the New York Jets will take on Todd Bowles’ squad on Saturday for their third preseason contest. Each week is an opportunity for players to earn roster spots and there is less than a month until the regular season kicks off.

The Jets shut out the Carolina Panthers 27-0 in last week’s exhibition game following a 21-16 loss to the Cleveland Browns in the Hall of Fame Game. With the Jets gearing up for another preseason matchup on Saturday, here are six players to keep an eye on versus the Buccaneers.

4 takeaways from Jets’ Hall of Fame Game loss vs. Browns

What are some of your takeaways from the Hall of Fame Game?

The Jets opened the preseason with a 21-16 loss to the Cleveland Browns in the 2023 Hall of Fame Game. Despite the loss, there were some positives that came out of the game. Coming out of Thursday’s game, here are four takeaways from the first preseason game of the season.

Zaire Barnes, Zack Kuntz ink their rookie contracts

Jets now have four of their seven draft picks signed.

The rookies continue to get locked in for the Jets. Two more draft picks, Zaire Barnes and Zack Kuntz, have signed their contracts, leaving just three rookies left to sign.

Barnes was New York’s sixth-round pick, No. 184 overall followed later by Kuntz in the seventh round, No. 220 overall.

Barnes is expected to compete for a role on special teams as a rookie while Kuntz is seen as a potential steal in the 7th with his incredible size and athleticism, posting a perfect 10.00 Relative Athletic Score.

The three remaining picks left to sign are their first three picks, Will McDonald IV, Joe Tippmann and Carter Warren.

Instant analysis to Jets selecting Western Michigan LB Zaire Barnes at No. 184

Thoughts on Zaire Barnes?

The Jets selected Western Michigan linebacker Zaire Barnes with the 184th pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.

With Barnes, the Jets get a potential core special-teamer that can also add depth in the linebacker room. Barnes has good speed and tackling ability. He ran a 4.54 40-yard dash at his Pro Day.

Barnes missed the entire 2020 season with a torn ACL but came back nicely in the two seasons following, totaling 161 tackles, 11.5 tackles for a loss, 3.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, nine passes defended and one interception in 25 games (24 starts).

Barnes is a former three-star recruit who played safety and running back in high school. That experience gives him the ability to play in coverage and his tackling ability will help in the run game. But early on, he’ll have to latch on with special teams if he is going to stick around, though he could also stick on the practice squad if he doesn’t make the final 53.

This is an interesting pick but in the sixth round, it’s worth the roll of the dice. He’ll be intriguing to follow during camp and the preseason.

Jets select Western Michigan linebacker Zaire Barnes with 184th pick

Jets take LB Zaire Barnes at No. 184

The New York Jets have selected Western Michigan linebacker Zaire Barnes with the 184th pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Barnes (six-foot-one, 233 pounds) totaled 15 career tackles for a loss and 3.5 sacks in his four seasons he played at Western Michigan. He missed the entire 2020 season with an ACL injury. He was a First-Team All-MAC selection and led the Broncos with 93 tackles in 2022, helping him earn a big to the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl.

Barnes projects to help add special teams values to the Jets with his speed (4.54 40 at his Pro Day) and tackling ability (205 career tackles).