Jelani Woods has done enough to stick with the New York Jets.
According to a source, the tight end made the team’s initial 53-man roster after putting together an excellent summer, one that gave him a real foothold after a quiet start with the club.
Woods, 27, first landed with the Jets on a waiver wire claim last year, but he didn’t get much of a chance to carve out a bigger role during the 2025 season. In four appearances, he caught one of three targets for four yards.
That changed over the summer. After a strong training camp, Woods carried that form into the preseason and turned in a productive showing across the Jets’ three exhibition games. He finished with four catches on seven targets for 23 yards, highlighted by a 13-yard touchdown from Geno Smith that showed off the athleticism that has always been part of his profile.
Injuries have been the biggest obstacle in Woods’ career. The 27-year-old, who posted a perfect 10.0 RAS (Relative Athletic Score), had not played since his rookie season - when he appeared in 15 games - until those four Jets outings in 2025.
There’s also familiarity working in his favor. Woods spent time under Jets offensive coordinator Frank Reich with the Indianapolis Colts, so he already understands Reich’s system and what the 64-year-old wants from his tight ends.
He’s expected to open the season as the Jets’ TE4, but there’s at least a path to more. Woods knows the offense, and his connection with Smith during the summer was clear.
In Other News...
Jets Just Saw Another Failed D-Line Bet End Quietly
The Jets moved on from another defensive line experiment this week, releasing former first-round pick Mazi Smith after a brief stint that did not produce much on the stat sheet or in the larger roster picture. Smith, who spent his first three NFL seasons with the Cowboys before landing with New York, had been viewed as a depth addition, but the Jets ultimately decided to cut bait.
Miami wasted little time giving him a new landing spot, adding Smith to its practice squad to help with defensive line depth. For the Jets, its another reminder that finding useful interior help has been a tricky task, especially when the bet is on a player with draft pedigree but limited pro production. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Depth Chart Tightens As Familiar Name Returns Before Season
The Jets are still fine-tuning the margins of their roster before the 2026 season, and their latest move brought back a familiar face. New York signed offensive lineman Kohl Levao to the practice squad while moving on from wide receiver Cam Camper, a switch that reflects how teams keep shuffling depth even after the final cutdown period. Levao already has time in the building and appeared in all three preseason games, giving the Jets another interior option as they sort through the back end of the line.
Camper got a look during the preseason but came up short of the final roster, which is often the harsh reality this time of year. For the Jets, the bigger picture is less about one transaction than the ongoing effort to stabilize the depth chart before the games count, especially up front where familiarity can matter as much as fresh talent. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Edge Plan Already Has One Early Problem Fans Feared
Joseph Ossais first preseason with the Jets ended with an unwelcome setback, and it comes at a spot where New York was counting on him right away. The edge rusher suffered a full plantar fascia tear in the preseason finale and is now being handled as week-to-week, leaving the team to sort out how to cover one of its projected starting roles as the regular season approaches.
Aaron Glenn said Ossai could wind up on short-term injured reserve, which would keep him out for at least the first four games. For a player expected to open the year in the starting lineup, the timing is especially frustrating, and it puts an early dent in a Jets edge plan that was supposed to get an immediate boost from his arrival. [Read more 🡒]