The Jets are reaching back into familiar territory at linebacker, adding Mykal Walker to the practice squad as injuries continue to pile up at the position, according to Jets X Factor’s Connor Long.
Walker’s return comes after a winding path back to New York. He spent the 2025 season and the 2026 offseason with the Jets, and he likely would have been on the roster to open the 2026 season if not for an injury he suffered over the summer. That led to a waiver with an injury settlement, and after working out for a couple of teams over the last two months, he’s back in the building.
The timing makes sense. The Jets have been light at linebacker for a while, with Demario Davis and Jamien Sherwood holding down the starting jobs while the depth behind them has been shaky. That situation only got worse with Kiko Mauigoa still on injured reserve and Trevin Wallace inactive this past Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Walker should help in a hurry because he already knows the system. He likely has a handle on what the Jets want from him defensively and on special teams, which puts him in position to be dressed on game days sooner rather than later.
His arrival also naturally raises the trade-deadline question, but it doesn’t appear to change much on that front. Davis, now 37, hasn’t looked like the former All-Pro he was with the New Orleans Saints, and his two-year deal includes guaranteed money in Year 2. With a 38-year-old due $12.5 million in 2027, another team is not likely to part with meaningful assets for him.
Sherwood is the more interesting name. He got off to a rough start, but over the last month he’s played better, with some of the speed that earned him his three-year contract showing up again. He’s also a willing tackler, which gives him some appeal if a playoff team wants linebacker depth.
Even so, the Jets don’t seem likely to get the kind of offer that would move either starter. And while plenty of spots on the defense could look different after the trade deadline, linebacker probably won’t be one of them.
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