The Jets will head into their Week 1 meeting with the Tennessee Titans missing two players after head coach Aaron Glenn ruled out edge rusher Joseph Ossai and wide receiver Tim Patrick.
New York also listed cornerback D'Angelo Ponds and running back Kene Nwangwu as doubtful for the opener, which kicks off the new NFL season this weekend.
Ossai arrived in New York this offseason after the first stretch of his career with the Cincinnati Bengals. The former third-round pick out of Texas is expected to add depth to the pass rush. Last season, he appeared in 14 games for Cincinnati and finished with 43 total tackles, five sacks, and two forced fumbles.
Patrick joined the Jets after spending last season with the Jacksonville Jaguars. The veteran receiver posted 15 catches for 187 yards and three touchdowns in Jacksonville. He entered the league as an undrafted free agent in 2017 out of Utah, first signing with the Baltimore Ravens, and has also spent time with several other teams, including seven years with the Denver Broncos.
Ponds, a second-round pick from 2026, is viewed as a potential secondary option once healthy, while Nwangwu gives New York backfield depth.
Even with those absences, the Jets are expected to have most of their roster available against Tennessee. Geno Smith will start at quarterback in his second stint with New York, and the pressure will be on him to deliver. If he does, the offense could give the Jets a higher ceiling than last year’s 3-14 finish would suggest.
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Jets Had Even Their Top Pick Guessing Before The Draft
The pre-draft process can be a maze for prospects, and David Bailey had one of the more confusing paths of all. About two weeks before the 2026 NFL Draft, the Jets canceled a planned meeting with the Texas Tech edge rusher, a move that left some uncertainty around how strongly they were considering him at the top of the board.
Bailey later said in an interview that he was unsure where he stood with New York, even as his agent told him the cancellation was not a sign of fading interest. The uncertainty ended in the biggest possible way for the Jets, who still made Bailey the No. 2 overall pick and made clear that a missed meeting was never the full story. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Enter Week 1 With Depth Concerns Aaron Glenn Couldn't Ease
The Jets are heading into Week 1 with a few key depth questions still hanging over the roster, and Aaron Glenn could only do so much to calm them before kickoff. Edge rusher Joseph Ossai and wide receiver Tim Patrick have already been ruled out for the opener, while rookie cornerback DAngelo Ponds and kick returner Kene Nwangwu were both listed as doubtful after dealing with calf and back injuries.
For a team trying to settle into a rhythm early, those absences matter because they trim the margin for error on both sides of the ball and in the return game. Glenn offered updates on where each player stands and sounded encouraged about Ossais recovery timetable, but the Jets still have to get through Sunday with some uncertainty attached to spots they were hoping would be settled by now. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Head Into Week 1 With Key Roles Suddenly In Doubt
The Jets are already dealing with a little September uncertainty before the opener even arrives, as Aaron Glenn ruled out edge rusher Joseph Ossai and wide receiver Tim Patrick for Week 1. Ossai was hurt in the preseason finale with a foot injury, leaving a spot on the edge suddenly unavailable, while Patricks absence trims another option from a receiver room that needs to settle in quickly once the games count.
There is more nervousness on the depth chart, too, with cornerback DAngelo Ponds and returner Kene Nwangwu both listed as doubtful because of injuries. Ponds is working through a calf strain, and Nwangwus availability is complicated by hamstring problems, which adds another layer of uncertainty to the Jets' special teams plans and secondary rotation heading into opening week. [Read more 🡒]