The Jets kicked off Jaguars week with a flurry of roster moves and their first injury report - and while there’s some concern on the injury front, most of the key names are still expected to suit up.
Let’s start with the transactions. New York brought back a familiar face in quarterback Adrian Martinez, signing him to the practice squad.
Martinez spent the past two preseasons with the team, so there’s already some familiarity with the system. He’s not expected to see the field, but his return adds depth to a quarterback room that’s seen its share of turbulence this season.
The Jets also made a change on the defensive line, signing Eric Watts to the active roster while placing rookie Tyler Baron on injured reserve. That’s a tough break for Baron, who had been showing flashes of promise in limited snaps.
Watts, meanwhile, gets his shot to contribute in a rotation that’s leaned heavily on Quinnen Williams and Jermaine Johnson. With the Jaguars’ offense coming to town, keeping the defensive front fresh will be key.
Tight end Nick Muse was also added to the practice squad. Muse, a 27-year-old former seventh-round pick, has logged 16 games in his career with just one catch to his name. He’s more of a depth piece at this point, but his experience could prove valuable if injuries hit the tight end room.
Now, onto the injury report. Several players missed practice, but the expectation is that most will be ready by game day - including Breece Hall.
That’s especially important given the challenge ahead. Hall’s production has dipped over the last month, and now he’s facing the NFL’s top-ranked run defense in Jacksonville.
The Jets will need to find creative ways to get him going, whether that’s outside the tackles, in the screen game, or even splitting him out wide to create mismatches.
With the Jaguars’ defense playing at a high level and the Jets trying to find some offensive rhythm, this week’s matchup could come down to execution in the trenches. The Jets’ offensive line will have its hands full, and Hall’s ability to make something out of nothing might be the X-factor.
As the week progresses, we’ll keep an eye on the injury updates - but for now, the Jets are gearing up for a physical, high-stakes battle against one of the AFC’s toughest defenses.