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New York Jets News & Rumors

Haason Reddick Unlikely To Re-Sign With Jets

November 17th, 2024 at 10:11pm CST by Rory Parks

In light of Haason Reddick’s holdout that extended into the regular season and the reasons for that holdout, it would be fair to expect the Jets’ edge defender and pending free agent to seek a new employer when the season ends. Indeed, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler hears that Reddick – who made his Gang Green debut in Week 8 – will “get as many sacks as he can and get out” (subscription required).

One of the most-discussed players in PFR pages this year, Reddick was acquired by the Jets in an offseason trade with the Eagles. Entering the last season of the Philadelphia-constructed contract that he had outplayed, he was hoping for a lucrative extension, and he believed the Jets reneged on their pledge to conduct true extension talks with him during the offseason. The Jets, however, had maintained they were not willing to discuss a long-term deal before Reddick began work in their defense. This led to a months-long standoff, a saga that included Reddick being dropped by his former agency and subsequently signing with Drew Rosenhaus.

Rosenhaus was able to facilitate a resolution to get Reddick back on the field, though the two-time Pro Bowler has gotten off to something of a slow start (which is to be expected given his long layoff). Working in a rotational capacity over his first three games as a member of the Jets, Reddick has posted a half-sack and three total tackles. 

The sample size is clearly much too small to draw any definitive conclusions about Reddick’s earning power, and he has seven more games to prove that he is still the same fearsome pass rusher that he has been in recent years. His market will be limited to a degree by his age (he is currently in his age-30 season), but even if he should struggle to generate the kind of production that he has become accustomed to over the remainder of the current campaign, he should still find a fairly healthy market in free agency.

After all, he is coming off four consecutive seasons of double-digit sacks and three straight seasons with a pass rush win rate over 20% (h/t Fowler’s ESPN colleague, Matt Bowen). While any team, including the Jets, would welcome that kind of talent on the edge, the relationship between Reddick and the Jets may be damaged beyond repair.

Plus, New York may be entering a rebuild – depending on how it proceeds with quarterback Aaron Rodgers – and while GM Joe Douglas and the other members of the current regime that were involved in the Reddick situation this year may not be retained, Reddick may not want to be part of a rebuilding operation anyway at this stage of his career.

Jets Rumors: HCs, Kingsbury, Johnson, Moses, Adams, McDonald

November 17th, 2024 at 10:02pm CST by Ely Allen

There are going to be plenty of question marks for the Jets to solve this offseason, but the most important one is going to be the head coaching position. After firing Robert Saleh in early-October, Jeff Ulbrich has been serving as interim head coach, but in the last ten years, only three of 23 interim coaches have been hired for the official job following their interim duties.

According to Connor Hughes of SportsNet New York, team owner Woody Johnson is overseeing the head coaching search, and the organization has already “started putting feelers out on potential head coaching candidates.” This doesn’t bode well for Ulbrich, who has only gone 1-5 since taking over as the interim head coach.

Here are a few other rumors coming out of New York:

  • Speaking of head coaching searches, Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury interviewed for the Jets’ open job back in 2019. According to Brian Costello of the New York Post, Kingsbury’s interview “went terribly,” partially due to the fact that he likely already knew that the Cardinals’ job was his. Six years later, Kingsbury’s name is likely to pop up again this offseason in head coaching conversations. He may get a second chance at his Jets interview.
  • With a head coaching search in progress and a potential change in general manager looming, as well, Johnson’s role as owner becomes a crucial one. According to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, though, there’s reportedly uncertainty because of Johnson’s volatility. Specifically, there appears to be a sense that Johnson takes too many opinions from “nonfootball people” and listens far too often to social media and the internet. That’s a scary concept for Jets fans to swallow as they gear up for another potential rebuild.
  • According to Costello, Jets starting right tackle Morgan Moses has been playing through a grade 2 MCL sprain, a meniscus issue, and a fracture in his knee for the last several weeks. Per Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, Moses has been “sleeping in a hyperbaric chamber and rehabbing around the clock” in order to get into playing shape each week.
  • Per Rich Cimini of ESPN, the Jets are experimenting with giving starting safety Tony Adams a bit less time on the field. An every-down player since 2023, Adams is the team’s third-leading tackler this season despite missing four tackles last week and missing the prior two games with a hamstring injury. Jalen Mills had been filling in during Adams’ absence, and he may be taking up the slack as Adams handles a reduced role.
  • Defensive end Will McDonald didn’t do too much to live up to his first-round draft status as a rookie last year. In Year 2, McDonald is looking much more worthy of the Day 1 pick, totaling eight sacks in ten games this season. There were assumptions after the draft that the Jets had reached for McDonald after the Steelers traded ahead of them to draft offensive tackle Broderick Jones, the assumed target of New York. According to Cimini, general manager Joe Douglas always preferred McDonald over Jones, intending to pair him opposite their first-round pick from the previous year, Jermaine Johnson, for the foreseeable future. McDonald’s sophomore success has made it clear that perhaps the Jets did not reach, as many assumed.

Jets Activate S Chuck Clark, Elevate K Anders Carlson

November 16th, 2024 at 7:27pm CST by Adam La Rose

Chuck Clark is set to return to the Jets’ lineup in Week 11. The veteran safety was activated from injured reserve on Saturday, per a team announcement.

Clark has been out of the lineup for the past month due to an ankle injury. The 29-year-old missed the minimum four games before returning to practice earlier this week. Given the timing of his 21-day activation window having been opened, today’s move comes as no surprise. New York now has six IR activations remaining for the year.

Signed in free agency last offseason, Clark was set to handle a starting role upon arrival with the Jets. The former Raven was out of the fold all season due to an ACL tear, however, leaving this past September as his first game action with his new team. Having logged a snap share of 85% prior to his injury, Clark played a key role in the Jets’ secondary when healthy and he will no doubt do so again moving forward.

New York ranks second in the league against the pass with an average of 168 yards per game allowed through the air. Maintaining that success will be necessary if the team is to make a push for the postseason over the second half of the year. The Jets sit at 3-7 and their offense sits 26th in scoring, so posting strong totals on the other side of the ball will be crucial. Clark, a pending free agent, will aim to help his market value by remaining on the field the rest of the way.

The team also elevated kicker Anders Carlson from the practice squad. Carlson was let go by the Packers ahead of roster cutdowns after just one season with the franchise. The 2023 sixth-rounder had an audition period with the 49ers over a two game span while filling in for the injured Jake Moody. Carlson was ultimately added to the Jets’ taxi squad last week as part of the team’s efforts to find a suitable Greg Zuerlein replacement.

Riley Patterson handled kicking duties for one game and went three-for-three on extra point attempts in New York’s 21-13 win. He was waived after that outing, however, with Carlson being added. Spencer Shrader was also in the picture at that point, but with Harrison Butker landing on IR he was signed by the Chiefs to fill in for the time being. That leaves Carlson – who connected on all five of his field goal attempts and three of his four extra point kicks with San Francisco – to serve as the Jets’ kicker for at least one contest.

To make room for Clark’s activation, offensive lineman Alec Lindstrom was waived. The 26-year-old has found himself on and off the Jets’ roster this season, and he made his first career regular season appearance in Week 9. provided he clears waivers, Lindstrom will be a prime candidate to be retained via a practice squad deal.

Harrison Butker Placed On IR; Chiefs Sign Spencer Shrader Off Jets’ P-Squad

November 15th, 2024 at 11:10am CST by Sam Robinson

NOVEMBER 15: The Chiefs have indeed placed Butker on injured reserve, announcing the move on Friday. The Shrader addition is also now official, and he will now have the opportunity to handle kicking duties for at least the next four games. Butker revealed on social media his surgery was a success, and he will now turn his attention to recovery ahead of a return to action as quickly as possible.

NOVEMBER 14: With the Chiefs winning the bulk of their games by one score, their ace kicker has been crucial to their 9-0 record. The two-time defending champions will soon have a new kicker due to a Harrison Butker injury.

Butker is battling a left knee injury, per NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero, and is likely heading to IR. The injury is expected to sideline the longtime Kansas City specialist for at least three weeks; an IR stay would shelve him for four. As a result, the Chiefs plan to sign Spencer Shrader off the Jets’ practice squad, Pelissero adds.

This injury will require surgery, per Pelissero, as Butker will have an arthroscopic procedure to address the issue. The Chiefs made Butker the NFL’s highest-paid kicker this offseason, re-signing him to a $6.4MM-per-year deal. While Butker’s long-term status is not in question, his availability for this year’s homestretch is.

Butker, 29, practiced fully Wednesday but was limited today. This recent development could be a major issue for the Chiefs, who have seen Butker become one of the NFL’s best kickers over the past several years. Kansas City signed Butker off Carolina’s practice squad in 2017 and have seen him become a long-term weapon. Butker has become the team’s longest-tenured kicker since Nick Lowery.

Butker’s place as a political lightning rod — due to comments made during a commencement address at Benedictine (Kan.) College this spring — notwithstanding, he has continued to be among the NFL’s most reliable kickers. Butker is 18-for-20 on field goals this season, including a 51-yard game-winner to move the Chiefs past the Bengals in Week 2. Butker is 21-for-22 on PATs this season. Shrader, whom the Jets signed shortly before Greg Zuerlein landed on IR, has kicked in two NFL games.

No Pro Bowls have come Butker’s way, but he has been a vital part of the Chiefs’ mission. He kicked a short game-winner in Super Bowl LVII but made a 45-yarder in cold weather to send the Chiefs to that game. Butker also nailed a game-tying kick to force overtime in an all-time playoff thriller against the Bills in 2021 and did the same to force an extra period in Super Bowl LVIII. The latter kick came after Butker set a Super Bowl record with a 57-yarder against the 49ers.

The Panthers drafted Butker in the 2017 seventh round but let him leave for Kansas City due to Graham Gano residing as their primary kicker then. Butker has run into injury trouble in the past; an ankle malady cost him four games early during the 2022 season. This year’s Chiefs team, its unbeaten record aside, has outscored opponents by just 58 points — ninth-most in the NFL. They will now rely on Shrader for the time being, though Butker should be expected back later this season.

A rookie who kicked at South Florida for four seasons and Notre Dame for one, Shrader filled in for Matt Gay in one Colts game this season before kicking in the Jets-Cardinals matchup in Week 10. Shrader is 2-for-2 on field goals, both coming Sunday, and 3-for-3 on PATs (each with Indianapolis). The Jets cut Riley Patterson last week but still have Anders Carlson on their P-squad.

Aaron Rodgers Hasn’t Changed Stance On Playing In 2025

November 14th, 2024 at 7:55pm CST by Ben Levine

The 2024 campaign obviously hasn’t gone as planned for Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets. Considering the frustrations that have mounted during a 3-7 start, there’s been some speculation that the future Hall of Famer might call it a career.

However, the soon-to-be 41-year-old seemed to somewhat commit to a 2025 campaign during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show. When asked if he’ll be back in New York next season, Rodgers said he “think[s] so, yeah” (per ESPN’s Rich Cimini). While the QB gave a less-than-emphatic response, he did acknowledged that this season hasn’t changed his stance on 2025 (per Brian Costello of the New York Post).

Rodgers was also asked about his statement from last offseason that he intends to play “two or three or four more years.” The QB said his stance hasn’t really changed, and he even hinted that he has a stronger desire to continue his career in 2025.

In his return from a lost 2023 campaign, Rodgers hasn’t necessarily looked like his old self this year. His TD% and INT% are among career worsts, and his 6.4 yards per attempt represents his lowest average as a starter. Rodgers told McAfee that he hasn’t come close to reaching his “standards” in 2024, and that could be a motivating factor as he considers playing next season. As Cimini notes, there’s also a natural financial incentive; Rodgers has a $35MM option bonus due this upcoming offseason.

On the flip side, Rodgers has battled hamstring, knee, and ankle injuries this year, and with 2025 representing his age-42 season, Rodgers may prefer to walk away from the game in one piece. Cimini also wonders if Rodgers’ lack of a definitive commitment could be due to the lack of certainty regarding Jets leadership heading into next season. For what it’s worth, Rodgers did give an endorsement to interim HC Jeff Ulbrich.

“I feel like he’s done some really good things,” Rodgers said (via Cimini). “I think Brick is an NFL head coach, whether it’s here moving forward or down the line. I mean, he’s a leader of men and I’ll stand by him. I’d love to play for him until the end. So have a lot of love and respect for him.”

The Jets will surely consider options at both head coach and GM this offseason. However, the biggest factor surrounding their offseason approach could be focused on the status of their veteran quarterback.

Jets S Chuck Clark Designated For Return From IR

November 13th, 2024 at 9:19pm CST by Ely Allen

A year after missing the entire 2023 NFL season with a torn ACL, Jets safety Chuck Clark finally returned to the field as a starter for his new team this year. Unfortunately, Clark found himself on injured reserve once again six games into the 2024 NFL season. After the minimum required four missed games, Clark is now being designated to return from IR, per Brian Costello of the New York Post.

Clark‘s troubles staying on the field do not date back to his time in Baltimore. The former Ravens strong safety only missed two games over the first six years of his career, but since being traded to New York, he has missed 21 games. He missed all 17 games in 2023 with a torn ACL and has missed four more since being placed on injured reserve.

Despite Clark missing the entirety of his only season under contract with New York, the Jets elected to keep him around, re-signing him and fellow free agent Ashtyn Davis while watching Jordan Whitehead walk in free agency. The Jets held an offseason competition for the starting two jobs between Clark, Davis, and Tony Adams after Adams and Whitehead started most of last year. Clark ended up beating out Davis to start the first six games of the season alongside Adams, with Davis getting playing time here and there off the bench.

Instead of Davis taking over for Clark in the starting role, as was initially thought to be the preferred course of action, veteran Jalen Mills took over starting duties in Clark’s absence. If Clark is able to return soon, it will only bolster some impressive safety depth for a defense that already ranks third in passing yards allowed this season. His tackling prowess could help improve a run defense that ranks 26th in yards allowed, though.

Initially sidelined with the diagnosis of a high-ankle sprain, the minimal four-game absence was expected, allowing Clark to potentially return to the field this week in time for a Sunday night matchup against the Colts. The NFL has since flexed the matchup to noon. If Clark isn’t quite ready to return this week, an additional two weeks could be available for recovery as the Jets’ bye week falls right after the team’s contest versus Indianapolis.

The Jets won’t have too much wiggle room after that, though, as today’s transaction opens a 21-day practice window for Clark. If the 29-year-old safety is unable to return by the close of that window, he’ll revert to season-ending IR.

Jets Claim C Connor McGovern

November 12th, 2024 at 9:31pm CST by Ben Levine

And just like that, Connor McGovern is back in New York. The Jets announced that they’ve claimed the veteran offensive lineman off waivers. McGovern was waived by the Saints yesterday.

[RELATED: Saints Waive Connor McGovern]

McGovern started the 2024 campaign in New York after catching on with the team’s practice squad. The Saints snagged the lineman in early October and added him to the active roster, where he proceeded to start five of his six appearances. However, with both Erik McCoy and Shane Lemieux nearing full health, the Saints decided to suddenly move on from their fill-in.

Back in New York, McGovern’s situation will be similar to what he faced earlier in the year. 2023 second-round pick Joe Tippmann is firmly entrenched as the team’s center, with backup center Alec Lindstrom generating only three special teams snaps this year. There’s a chance McGovern only makes a brief stop on the active roster before inevitably landing back on the practice squad.

Still, McGovern represents some worthwhile depth for the organization. The lineman joined the Jets ahead of the 2020 campaign and proceeded to start all 48 of his appearances through his first three seasons with the team. He suffered a dislocated kneecap last October that limited him to only seven starts in 2023.

Jets’ Tyron Smith Suffers Neck Injury

November 10th, 2024 at 5:18pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Starting left tackle Tyron Smith is doubtful to return to the Jets’ Week 10 matchup with the Cardinals due to a neck injury, according to a team announcement.

Smith played left tackle for every Jets offensive snap this season until his injury on Sunday. He was replaced by rookie Olumuyiwa Fashanu, who was drafted by New York with the 11th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Fashanu started two games at right tackle this year and played 37 snaps at right guard in Week 9.

Smith signed with the Jets in March to give Aaron Rodgers a proven blindside protector for his second year in New York. Though the team still drafted Fashanu to be a potential franchise left tackle, Smith’s presence ensured that the Jets did not have to risk Rodgers’ health behind a rookie lineman.

Additionally, cornerback Brandin Echols is out for the remainder of Week 10 with a concussion.

The 2021 sixth-rounder played in the Jets’ first nine games with starts in Week 2 and Week 7 and a key role on special teams. As a pending free agent, he garnered some trade interest ahead of last week’s deadline.

Jets GM Joe Douglas On Future With Team, Robert Saleh Dismissal; Latest On Owner Woody Johnson

November 10th, 2024 at 12:10pm CST by Rory Parks

At his midseason press conference on Wednesday, which lasted less than 10 minutes (h/t Rich Cimini of ESPN.com), GM Joe Douglas offered a few terse, notable non-answers with respect to owner Woody Johnson’s decision to fire head coach Robert Saleh without Douglas’ input. 

When asked whether he agreed with Johnson’s call, Douglas did not answer directly. He merely said that he had nothing more to add to the conversation and that, “I serve at the pleasure of the owner” (per Brian Costello of the New York Post, Douglas and Saleh enjoyed a close relationship, and Costello believes it unlikely that Douglas would have recommended Saleh’s dismissal).

In the immediate aftermath of Saleh’s ouster — which Cimini says upset some players — it was reported that Douglas would at least survive the current season. However, 2024 is the last year of his contract, and unless the 3-6 Jets surge to a playoff berth, it would be surprising if Douglas is retained for 2025. While he does have some highlights on his resume, the 30-62 record he has compiled over his five-plus seasons at the top of Gang Green’s front office and the abject failure of his Zach Wilson selection would likely be too much to overcome if New York does not qualify for the postseason.

That said, he indicated he is still hopeful that the Jets can make a playoff push, and he cited his club’s improved performance in a Halloween win over the Texans as reason for optimism. When asked about his own job security, he said, “I come in here every day, just do whatever I can to help this team reach its goals and get to its destination. Whatever happens, happens” (via Cimini).

In addition to the win-now acquisition of wide receiver Davante Adams — which, per Cimini, was done with an eye towards improving the locker room culture as well as the on-field product — Douglas followed through on a trade of fellow wideout Mike Williams, securing a fifth-round pick in a draft (2025) that he may not get to oversee. Douglas signed Williams to a one-year, $10MM deal this offseason, and he indicated during his presser that Williams’ inability to get on the field during spring work and for a portion of training camp undermined his Jets’ tenure.

“Not being part … of OTAs, not being able to be part of a majority of training camp, just could never really get that synched up,” Douglas said (via Costello). “This is a great opportunity for him to have a fresh start. It’s a move that we wouldn’t have made had we not felt good about the guys we have in the room. Us acquiring a player like Davante gives us the flexibility if a team wants to be aggressive to acquire a player like Mike, we can do that.”

When Saleh was hired, Johnson was serving as the ambassador to the United Kingdom for then-President Donald Trump. His brother, Christopher Johnson, worked with Douglas in running the HC search and bringing Saleh aboard. 

Following Trump’s recent re-election, many believe Woody Johnson will again depart the team to return to the U.K. or to accept a different appointment, as Costello reports in a separate piece (a report that Ian Rapoport of NFL.com echoes). However, such an appointment would likely not happen until Johnson has had time to make a decision on Douglas’ future, set a budget, and hire the team’s next permanent head coach. Christopher Johnson would then step back in to oversee day-to-day operations.

Minor NFL Transactions: 11/9/24

November 9th, 2024 at 9:11pm CST by Ely Allen

Today’s minor moves, including standard gameday practice squad elevations:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Buffalo Bills

Chicago Bears

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Kansas City Chiefs

Los Angeles Chargers

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

  • Elevated: LB Curtis Bolton, WR Isaiah Hodgins

New York Jets

San Francisco 49ers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

Spector will miss at least the next four games as a result of the Bills’ move. He has remained a mainstay on special teams this year, having also done so in 2022 and ’23. The former seventh-rounder has made three starts on defense, however, so his absence will be felt moving forward. Linebacker has been a position hit hard by injuries this season, and Buffalo’s depth at the second level will now be tested even further.

Wattenberg had his 21-day practice window opened by the Broncos earlier this week, paving the way for today’s activation. The 27-year-old operated as the team’s starting center prior to going down after having won a summer competition for the gig with Alex Forsyth. Forsyth handled first-team duties over the past four games, drawing a superior PFF evaluation and therefore potentially playing his way into an extended look atop the depth chart. At a minimum, having Wattenberg back will give Denver – a team with three IR activations left – depth up front.

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