As the New York Jets limp toward the end of a turbulent 2025 season, the front office continues to shuffle the bottom of the roster-this time with moves that, while minor on the surface, carry real implications for a team still trying to find its footing. Injuries have ravaged the depth chart, particularly under center, and the Jets have responded by bringing in some familiar faces while also giving new opportunities to young players looking to prove they belong. Let’s break down the latest roster moves from Florham Park and what they mean for the team as the season winds down.
Jets Sign DE Kingsley Jonathan to the Practice Squad
The Jets brought back a familiar name this week, signing defensive end Kingsley Jonathan to the practice squad after a Tuesday workout. Jonathan, who spent the summer with the Jets before being cut at the end of training camp, returns to a defense that’s thin on edge depth following a recent injury.
Jonathan made a solid impression in the preseason, notching a sack and three pressures while earning a 69.5 overall grade from Pro Football Focus. He’s no stranger to NFL action either, having appeared in 20 career games over four seasons, mostly with the Buffalo Bills. While he’s not a game-changer, Jonathan is a steady presence who knows the system and can step in if needed.
With one of their young edge rushers now sidelined, this is a depth move that makes sense-and one that could lead to more reps if the injuries continue to pile up.
Jets Place Rookie DE Tyler Baron on Injured Reserve
The injury bug continues to bite, and this time it’s Tyler Baron, the Jets’ fifth-round pick from this past April. Baron was placed on injured reserve after suffering a knee injury in Sunday’s loss to the Dolphins, ending a rookie season that never quite got off the ground.
Baron finishes the year with just seven tackles and four pressures in six games. He spent much of the season as a healthy scratch, buried behind Micheal Clemons and Braiden McGregor on the depth chart.
The Jets had high hopes for Baron-so much so that they traded a 2026 fifth-round pick to move up and grab him. But now, with his rookie campaign cut short, he’ll head into next year’s training camp squarely on the roster bubble.
The hope is that with a full offseason to recover and develop, Baron can re-enter the competition with a clean slate. But for now, his absence opens the door for another young pass rusher to get a shot.
Jets Promote DE Eric Watts to 53-Man Roster
That opportunity now belongs to Eric Watts, a 2024 undrafted free agent who’s been elevated from the practice squad to the 53-man roster. Watts saw action in 14 games as a rookie last year but didn’t make the cut this summer. He got his first taste of game action this season in Week 13 against the Falcons and quietly impressed in limited snaps, earning a 68.6 PFF grade on just 16 plays.
With Baron out and McGregor struggling to make an impact, the Jets may want to give Watts a longer look down the stretch. He’s raw, but he brings energy and athleticism off the edge-two traits this defense could use right now.
This isn’t about finding a star; it’s about seeing who can stick. And for a team staring down another offseason of retooling, every rep for a young player like Watts matters.
Jets Add QB Adrian Martinez and TE Nick Muse to Practice Squad
The quarterback situation in New York has gone from bad to worse, and the Jets made a move to stabilize things by bringing back Adrian Martinez, the former UFL MVP who spent 2024 on the Jets’ practice squad. Martinez battled rookie Brady Cook for the QB3 spot in training camp, but ultimately lost out and landed with the 49ers. Now he’s back, just in time to offer some much-needed depth.
With Tyrod Taylor (groin) and Justin Fields (knee) both sidelined, Cook was the last healthy quarterback on the roster until Martinez rejoined the fold. Cook took first-team reps in practice on Wednesday, but if Taylor and Fields can’t go on Sunday, Martinez could be elevated to serve as Cook’s backup-or possibly even start, depending on how things shake out.
Martinez isn’t just a body to fill out the depth chart. He’s a mobile, creative quarterback who showed flashes in the UFL and knows the Jets’ system well. In a season where nothing has gone according to plan at quarterback, Martinez could get one more shot to show what he’s got.
The Jets also added tight end Nick Muse to the practice squad, a move that comes as the team deals with injuries at the position. Both Mason Taylor (neck) and Stone Smartt (concussion) missed practice Wednesday, leaving Jeremy Ruckert and Jelani Woods as the only healthy tight ends on the active roster.
Muse, a former seventh-round pick by the Vikings in 2022, gives the Jets a veteran option in the event they need an emergency elevation. He’s not expected to play a major role, but with depth this thin, every addition counts.
Final Thoughts
None of these moves will dominate headlines, but they reflect a Jets team still fighting to stay competitive in a season that’s veered off course. Injuries have forced the front office to get creative, leaning on practice squad call-ups, familiar faces, and developmental players to fill the gaps.
For guys like Eric Watts and Adrian Martinez, this is more than just a roster shuffle-it’s an audition. And for the Jets, it’s a chance to evaluate who might be part of the solution in 2026.