Nate Lynn has turned a late-summer opportunity into a real roster push, and now the Jets preseason standout may have an even bigger twist waiting in Week 1.
Lynn, who put up two sacks in New York’s preseason shutout of the Pittsburgh Steelers, has given Aaron Glenn something to think about as the Jets sort through a deep defensive line group. For a player signed just eight days ago, that kind of production can change the conversation fast.
And if Lynn does crack the 53-man roster, the first game on the schedule gives him a built-in chip on his shoulder. The Jets open against the Tennessee Titans, the same team that decided not to bring him back for 2026. That leaves Lynn with a clean shot at revenge against the organization that pushed him back onto the open market.
His path to this point has already been bumpy. Lynn impressed as an undrafted free agent with the Detroit Lions in 2024 before a shoulder injury cut that run short.
Tennessee then took a chance on him, but Robert Saleh didn’t see enough to keep him in the defensive line rotation. Now Lynn is trying to force his way onto a Jets front that has plenty of bodies but still has room for a player who can affect the quarterback.
The top of that depth chart appears set, with David Bailey, Joseph Ossai, Will McDonald, and Kingsley Enagbare all in position to claim spots because of either their upside or their veteran value. That means Glenn and defensive coordinator Brian Duker may have to clear room elsewhere if they want to keep a fifth defensive end in the mix.
If Glenn truly means it when he talks about a merit-based atmosphere, Lynn has a strong case. And if he gets on the field in Week 1, there’s a path for him to make noise against a Titans offensive line that is far from dominant and put pressure on Cam Ward.
Lynn would also be part of a broader Jets edge in that matchup. The organization already has plenty of reasons to want to beat Saleh and the former New York players and coaches now in Tennessee. Lynn could be joined in that revenge-minded group by nose tackle T'Vondre Sweat and cornerback Jarvis Brownlee Jr., two more former Titans who will be headed back to Nashville with something to prove.
In Other News...
Jets Still Have Two Roster Holes Cutdown Day Could Finally Fix
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Quarterback is the other lane the Jets may be watching, especially if Aidan OConnell becomes available after roster trimming in Las Vegas. OConnell has the kind of experience that can matter for a club seeking a veteran backup, and for the Jets the question is less about star power than whether the right names are suddenly there when the market opens. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Secondary Buzz Could Force A Real Defensive Change
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Now the question is whether Glenn leans into that depth by using more three-safety looks with Minkah Fitzpatrick on the field in those heavier rotations. If Cisco and Belton keep stacking strong outings, the Jets may not just be evaluating two promising defensive backs, they may be looking at a real adjustment to how the back end is deployed this season. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Enter Cutdown Week With One Big Question About This Defense
Training camp is over, roster cutdown week is here, and the Jets are moving into the next phase of the preseason with a clearer picture of where their depth stands. Cade York was waived after losing the kicking competition to Jason Sanders, one of the early personnel decisions that comes with this stretch, but the bigger focus remains on how the roster will settle around the defense and the identity the team wants to carry into the season.
The plan on that side of the ball is straightforward in concept and demanding in execution: disrupt quarterbacks and receivers, attack the ball and keep explosive plays to a minimum. It is the kind of blueprint the Jets believe can lift a unit that ranked poorly a year ago, but the real question now is whether the group on hand can turn those goals into results once the roster is finalized and the games start to count. [Read more 🡒]