Jelani Woods showed up at just the right moment for the New York Jets.
With rookie tight end Kenyon Sadiq dealing with a setback, Woods suddenly has a clearer path to make his case in camp. Jets coach Aaron Glenn said Tuesday that Sadiq will be “out a bit” after the latest issue, even though Glenn still expects the No. 16 pick in April to be available for Week 1 against Robert Saleh and the Titans. Sadiq had offseason sports hernia surgery, so this is another bump in the road for a player the Jets are still counting on.
That leaves Mason Taylor, Jeremy Ruckert and Woods in the tight end picture, and Woods is the one making noise right now. The veteran, who came to New York on a waiver claim last summer and re-signed on a one-year deal in March, has been one of the standouts over the past week.
According to the Jets’ official website, he had three catches and led the team in targets on Monday. He’s also already building chemistry with Geno Smith and Cade Klubnik.
Glenn made it clear he sees a role for Woods if he keeps this up.
“There’s a number of things that you can envision him doing for us,” Glenn told reporters. “You can split him out and let him go one-on-one with a safety [or] a linebacker, and I’m expecting him to win that matchup.”
The fit makes sense. Woods and offensive coordinator Frank Reich know each other well from their time together in Indianapolis during Woods’ rookie season in 2022, when the tight end quickly settled into Reich’s offense and finished with 25 catches for 315 yards and three touchdowns.
Then the injuries hit hard. Woods missed the entire 2023 season with hamstring issues and all of 2024 after toe surgery.
The Colts cut him last August, and he eventually landed with the Jets, appearing in four games. His only catch for New York was a 4-yard grab in the Week 17 loss to New England.
Now he’s back in the mix, and the timing couldn’t be better. Taylor is heading into the second year of his rookie deal, and the Jets extended Ruckert last December, so both are in good shape for the Week 1 roster. That doesn’t leave a lot of room, but Woods has given himself a real shot at at least landing on the practice squad.
Reich’s comfort with Woods matters, and so does his preference for multiple-tight-end looks. If Sadiq’s setback keeps him sidelined for any stretch, Woods could get even more preseason work and continue building that connection with Klubnik, the fourth-round rookie from Clemson.
For a Jets team that has spent too many years bracing for the worst, this is one of those rare moments when a roster situation still leaves room for optimism.
In Other News...
Jets Camp Just Took Another Hit At Tight End
The Jets tight end group has already been under a spotlight in camp, and rookie Kenyon Sadiq has added another layer to it after missing practice time while working back from a hernia injury. Head coach Aaron Glenn confirmed the setback, which comes at a point when every rep matters for a young player trying to carve out a role and for a position group that has been watched closely since camp opened.
Sadiqs absence could create a little more runway for Mason Taylor, who has drawn praise from the coaching staff and may see more chances while the rookie continues his rehab. For a team trying to sort out its depth and find reliable options early, any interruption at tight end has a way of changing the conversation fast, and this one leaves the Jets waiting on how soon Sadiq can get back into the mix. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Rookie Is Suddenly Forcing His Way Into A Bigger Role
The Jets interior defensive line has already been handed a summer twist, with the early weeks of training camp creating an opening for Darrell Jackson Jr. The rookie defensive tackle came into the season with the expectation that his first year would be more about learning than playing, but extra practice reps have put him in position to show he can handle more than a limited developmental role.
Jacksons rise has come in part because the defensive tackle room has been thinned out early, giving him a clearer path to work with the first group and make an impression on the coaching staff. If the line keeps dealing with injuries, the Jets may not have the luxury of easing him along for long, and what was supposed to be a quiet rookie season could turn into something much bigger before camp is over. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Kicker Battle Just Became A Real Week 1 Debate
The Jets spent the offseason replacing a familiar piece of stability after veteran kicker Nick Folk left for Atlanta in free agency, and the search for his successor has quickly turned into one of camps more intriguing battles. New York brought in Cade York and former All-Pro Jason Sanders to compete for the job, giving the team two kickers with enough pedigree to make this more than a routine depth-chart exercise.
A recent training camp practice only sharpened the competition, with Sanders running the table on all eight field goal tries and York connecting on seven of eight. For now, the Jets look set with their main Week 1 options, but the final call is still going to come down to who can stay steady through the rest of camp and the preseason, where every kick carries a little more weight than usual. [Read more 🡒]