The New York Jets made a pair of roster moves this week that could have ripple effects on both sides of the ball as they head into the final stretch of the season.
First, the team announced the promotion of defensive tackle Payton Page from the practice squad to the active roster. Page has been grinding behind the scenes, and now he gets his shot to contribute up front. While he may not be a household name just yet, the Jets clearly see something in the young lineman’s potential-especially with their defensive front continuing to deal with attrition.
That attrition includes safety Tony Adams, who was placed on injured reserve in a corresponding move. Adams has been a steady presence in the secondary, so his absence will be felt.
He brought range, physicality, and a knack for being around the ball. Losing him means the Jets’ depth in the defensive backfield will be tested, and the coaching staff will need to get creative with their rotations.
On the offensive side, the Jets added quarterback Hendon Hooker to the practice squad. Hooker, now 27, has had a winding journey to this point.
After starting his college career at Virginia Tech, he transferred to Tennessee and quickly made a name for himself. In 2022, he was firmly in the Heisman conversation before an ACL tear derailed what had been a breakout season.
Despite the injury, Hooker’s upside remained intriguing enough for the Lions to take him in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft, grabbing him with the No. 68 overall pick. He signed a four-year rookie deal worth just over $5.7 million, including a $1.15 million signing bonus. But after limited action in Detroit-he appeared in three games in 2024, completing six of nine passes for 62 yards-he found himself on the outside looking in following final roster cuts in 2025.
Hooker had a brief stint on the Panthers’ practice squad before being released, and now he lands in New York with a fresh opportunity. For the Jets, this is a low-risk, potentially high-reward move.
Hooker brings mobility, experience, and a solid football IQ. If he can get back to the form he showed at Tennessee, where he was surgical with the football and a true dual-threat, he could become an intriguing developmental piece in the quarterback room.
These moves, while not headline-grabbing on their own, speak to the Jets’ ongoing effort to build depth and find upside wherever they can. With the season grinding toward its conclusion, every roster spot matters-and both Page and Hooker now have a chance to show they belong.