The Jets have already settled on their top two quarterbacks, but the third spot on the depth chart is still very much in play.
New York kept only Geno Smith and Cade Klubnik on its final 53-man roster, parting ways with Bailey Zappe and Brady Cook. The team is expected to add a third quarterback to the practice squad, and on Tuesday it made one move official by bringing Zappe back and giving the roster 17 players on the practice squad.
That decision, though, doesn’t exactly feel like the last word. Zappe struggled through the preseason, throwing two interceptions and finishing with 135 yards across three appearances. He was also the Jets’ first cut as the team started trimming toward its final roster.
If the Jets want a different kind of developmental option, there’s another name worth watching: Joe Milton.
After the Dallas Cowboys named Sam Howell the backup behind Dak Prescott, they waived the former New England Patriots draft pick. And for the Jets, that opens the door to a quarterback with far more arm talent than Zappe. Milton doesn’t bring the same amount of regular-season experience, but he does bring obvious physical upside and one of the strongest arms in the league.
He also flashed it in Week 18 of the 2024 season, when he powered the Patriots past Buffalo’s backups in a 23-16 win. Milton went 22-of-29 for 241 yards and accounted for two touchdowns, one passing and one rushing.
He is not a finished product, and he is not the polished veteran the Jets could use between Geno Smith and Cade Klubnik. But his ceiling is enough to make him a legitimate alternative, and New York should at least think about putting in a claim.
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 🡒]