Jets’ Tyron Smith Suffers Neck Injury
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
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
Today’s minor moves, including standard gameday practice squad elevations:
Arizona Cardinals
- Elevated: CB Divaad Wilson
Atlanta Falcons
- Elevated: WR Chris Blair, OLB Khalid Kareem
Buffalo Bills
- Elevated: WR Tyrell Shavers, WR K.J. Hamler
- Placed on IR: LB Baylon Spector
Chicago Bears
- Activated from IR: G Ryan Bates (story)
- Elevated: T Jake Curhan, LB Carl Jones Jr.
Dallas Cowboys
- Elevated: CB Josh Butler, WR Jalen Cropper
Denver Broncos
- Activated from IR: C Luke Wattenberg
- Elevated: FB Michael Burton, LB Zach Cunningham
Detroit Lions
- Signed to active roster: LB Abraham Beauplan, OLB Al-Quadin Muhammad, TE Shane Zylstra
- Elevated: T Jamarco Jones, LB Zeke Turner
- Placed on IR: LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin
- Waived: DE Isaiah Thomas
Houston Texans
- Elevated: DT Tommy Togiai
Indianapolis Colts
- Elevated: WR Laquon Treadwell
Kansas City Chiefs
- Elevated: LB Cole Christiansen, WR Justyn Ross
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed to active roster: TE Tucker Fisk
- Elevated: CB Eli Apple, OLB Caleb Murphy
Miami Dolphins
- Waived: DT Brandon Pili
Minnesota Vikings
- Elevated: LS Jake McQuaide
New England Patriots
- Elevated: LB Joe Giles-Harris, TE Mitchell Wilcox
New Orleans Saints
- Elevated: WR Kevin Austin, WR Dante Pettis
New York Giants
- Elevated: LB Curtis Bolton, WR Isaiah Hodgins
New York Jets
- Elevated: K Spencer Shrader
San Francisco 49ers
- Elevated: S Tashaun Gipson
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Activated from IR: LS Evan Deckers
- Elevated: WR Marquez Callaway, LB Vi Jones
- Waived: LS Zach Triner
Tennessee Titans
- Elevated: C Corey Levin, S Daryl Worley
Washington Commanders
- Signed to active roster: RB Chris Rodriguez Jr.
- Elevated: K Zane Gonzalez, DE Efe Obada
- Placed on IR: TE Colson Yankoff
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.
Jets Waive K Riley Patterson, Sign K Anders Carlson To Practice Squad
Riley Patterson made a single appearance for the Jets, but his time with the team may be coming to an end. The veteran kicker was waived on Friday, per a team announcement. 
Patterson was added in the wake of Greg Zuerlein‘s injury, one which landed him on injured reserve. Patterson and Spencer Shrader were signed to the practice squad initially, and to no surprise New York went with experience in Week 9. Patterson was elevated for that contest, and he connected on all three of his extra point attempts in the Jets’ 21-13 win.
In spite of that success (and the continued presence of Schrader on the taxi squad), Patterson will now hit the waiver wire as a post-trade deadline cut. Any interested team could put in a claim, but if that does not happen the 25-year-old will be free to remain with New York by re-signing to the practice squad. Patterson is a veteran of 40 games, and he has a career accuracy rate of 88.1% on field goals while connecting on 96 of his 100 extra point kicks. To fill his roster spot, defensive tackle Bruce Hector was promoted from the practice squad to the active roster.
Today’s move does not necessarily pave the way for Schrader to handle kicking duties moving forward, however. The Jets have signed Anders Carlson to the practice squad, giving the 2023 Packers draftee another opportunity. Carlson joined the 49ers last month after Jake Moody‘s injury replacement (Matthew Wright) suffered an injury of his own. Carlson wound up making a pair of appearances for San Francisco, going five-for-five on field goals and three-for-four on extra points. He was let go after the 49ers reunited with safety Tashaun Gipson on Tuesday.
Consistency in the kicking game – regardless of who it comes from – would be a welcomed development for the Jets considering Zuerlein’s struggles before his injury. The 36-year-old received a vote of confidence earlier in the week from general manager Joe Douglas (as noted by ESPN’s Rich Cimini), but once healthy Zuerlein figures to have competition for his spot.
Steelers Acquire Mike Williams From Jets
Despite Allen Lazard‘s IR trip, the Jets will not hang onto Mike Williams. Instead, he will be the Steelers’ long-sought-after receiver upgrade.
Pittsburgh is sending New York a fifth-round pick for the recent free agency addition, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. The pick exchanged is a 2025 choice. The Steelers have been in on Williams for a bit, checking in with the Jets shortly after their Davante Adams acquisition prompted them to shop the March addition. And the Steelers, at long last, have a George Pickens complementary piece. New York will receive the lower of Pittsburgh’s fifth-round selections, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero clarifies.
Williams, 30, is not having a good season. Signing a one-year deal worth $10MM, the former Chargers 1,000-yard target has just 12 receptions for 166 yards this year. He will join Mecole Hardman as a Jets free agent WR pickup to be traded months later. Williams, of course, has produced on a higher level before. The Steelers will hope the former top-10 pick has some of his Chargers-years form left.
While the Steelers have been in on a Williams trade for a bit, they were interested in him during the period between his Chargers release and Jets signing. Pittsburgh joined Carolina in scheduling free agency visits with Williams, but after his New York meeting, both the other trips were cancelled. The fit with the Aaron Rodgers-led Jets, however, did not pan out.
A late-game slip led to a crucial Bills interception in Week 6, the Jets’ first post-Robert Saleh loss, but Williams had never quite found his footing in the team’s offense prior to that sequence. Rodgers criticizing Williams’ route postgame probably did not help matters. Coming back from a September 2023 ACL tear, Williams debuted on time with New York but saw Lazard — Rodgers’ longtime teammate from his Packers years — effectively usurp him in the Jets’ WR hierarchy. With Adams now in the fold alongside Garrett Wilson, there did not appear much meat on the bone left for Williams.
Even though Lazard’s Week 9 IR trip threw a wrench into the Williams trade market, the Jets may also have tried to use it as leverage by attempting to convince teams they would just keep Williams. Now, the Jets will go with the likes of Malachi Corley and Xavier Gipson behind their top two in the meantime. Williams has a path to becoming the Steelers’ WR2 in a now-Russell Wilson-centered offense.
Williams has two 1,000-yard seasons on his resume. The Chargers mostly used the Clemson product — the No. 7 overall pick in the 2017 draft — as a deep threat, but the 6-foot-4 target showed more range to his game during Joe Lombardi‘s OC run. The Bolts gave a longer look at Williams as a versatile weapon from 2021-22, and he turned in his best season in ’21 to help Justin Herbert become the AFC’s Pro Bowl starter. Williams posted 1,146 receiving yards and nine touchdowns that season, making crucial catches during a season-ending Raiders clash that nearly booted the Steelers from the playoffs — a game-winning Las Vegas field goal then eliminated the Chargers, who would have qualified with a tie.
The 2022 season, however, brought more injury trouble. After missing time earlier in the season, Williams suffered a back fracture in a meaningless Week 18 game in Denver. This weakened Los Angeles’ aerial attack ahead of the Jacksonville wild-card tilt, which became an infamous chapter for the AFC West franchise, which blew a 27-point lead without its talented WR2. With Brandon Staley’s seat warm after the Williams injury the previous season, the longtime Keenan Allen sidekick then went down with an ACL tear in Week 3 of last season.
Despite using his contract to reach cap compliance in March, the Chargers also looked into a trade with the Jets. But the Bolts are standing down, though more than two hours remain until the trade deadline. Williams’ early career brought a 10-touchdown 2018 and an NFL-leading 20.4 yards per reception in 2019; those long-game numbers may be relevant again thanks to Wilson’s deep-ball prowess. Then again, Williams is at a slightly different point in his career. It will be interesting to see if the Steelers attempt to tap into the long-range skillset that Williams displayed in his early 20s.
The Steelers will take on the remainder of Williams’ salary, Schefter adds, following the Jets’ lead in doing so after a wide receiver trade. Though, the bill will be much lower for Pittsburgh. Williams is due roughly $2.5MM the rest of the way. Although the Steelers have seen slot weapon Calvin Austin fare better in Wilson’s starts, Williams likely moves ahead of him and Van Jefferson in the team’s aerial hierarchy soon. Though, the Steelers will certainly need to manage their trade pickup due to his injury past.
This wraps a fascinating odyssey for the Steelers, whose initial Williams look preceded extensive work on WRs. The Steelers asked about Deebo Samuel during the draft and then agreed to trade framework with the 49ers during the Brandon Aiyuk saga. After Aiyuk chose a 49ers extension over a Steelers trade, the team regrouped before being in on the Adams and Cooper Kupp markets. The latter did not exactly last too long, as the Rams have now won three straight to return to playoff contention. Interest in Courtland Sutton and Darius Slayton emerged as well, but the Steelers have their hired gun in Williams.
As Williams will have a chance to play a bigger role and potentially create a decent market for himself in 2025, the Jets will attempt to get by with younger tertiary targets. Known more for trading away wideouts than acquiring them, the Steelers will hold Williams’ exclusive negotiating rights until the March legal tampering period.
2024 NFL Trades
We have reached the 2024 trade deadline, which came one week later than the league’s usual endpoint. An offseason measure to move the deadline back one week passed, sliding the deadline beyond Week 9 after it had resided the Tuesday following Week 8 since 2012. That opened the door to more activity this year.
The 2024 offseason also featured extensive work, as teams added starters and depth pieces. Here are the trades involving veteran players (or rookies already drafted) to take place this year:
March 4
- Bears land OL Ryan Bates from Bills in exchange for No. 144
Bears chose defensive end Austin Booker at No. 144
March 9
- Browns acquire WR Jerry Jeudy from Broncos for Nos. 136, 203
Broncos sent Seahawks No. 136, included 203 in trade with Jets for QB Zach Wilson
March 10
- Jaguars add QB Mac Jones from Patriots in exchange for No. 193
Patriots chose QB Joe Milton at 193
March 11
- Lions add CB Carlton Davis, No. 201, 2025 sixth-rounder from Buccaneers for No. 92
Bucs drafted WR Jalen McMillan at No. 92; Lions traded No. 201 to Eagles
- Giants acquire OLB Brian Burns, No. 166 from Panthers in exchange for Nos. 39, 141, 2025 fifth-rounder
Panthers traded down from No. 39, giving Rams access to DT Braden Fiske; team moved No. 141 in Bills deal that sent WR Xavier Legette to Carolina. Giants chose RB Tyrone Tracy at 166.
March 12
- Texans sent Bengals No. 224 in exchange for RB Joe Mixon
Bengals chose DB Daijahn Anthony at No. 224
- Panthers, Steelers swap CB Donte Jackson, WR Diontae Johnson
March 13
- 49ers land DT Maliek Collins from Texans for No. 232
Texans traded No. 232 to Vikings
- Jets acquire RT Morgan Moses, No. 134 from Ravens in exchange for Nos. 113, 218
Ravens chose WR Devontez Walker at No. 113, QB Devin Leary at 218; Jets drafted RB Braelon Allen at 134
March 14
- Cardinals, Falcons swap WR Rondale Moore, QB Desmond Ridder
- Seahawks acquire QB Sam Howell, Nos. 102, 179 from Commanders for Nos. 78, 152
Commanders traded Nos. 78, 152 to Eagles in trade that sent CB Cooper DeJean to Philadelphia; Seahawks moved down from No. 102, drafted G Sataoa Laumea at 179
- Bears add WR Keenan Allen from Chargers for No. 110 overall
Bolts traded No. 110 to Patriots
March 15
- Eagles acquire QB Kenny Pickett, No. 120 from Steelers in exchange for No. 98, highest two Philadelphia 2025 seventh-round draft choices
Steelers chose LB Payton Wilson at No. 98; Eagles traded No. 120 to Dolphins in package that brought back 2025 third-rounder
March 16
- Steelers sent Bears conditional 2025 sixth-round pick for QB Justin Fields
Fields must play in 51% of Steelers’ offensive snaps for pick to elevate from sixth to fourth round
March 22
- Titans add CB L’Jarius Sneed, No. 252 from Chiefs in exchange for No. 221, 2025 third-round pick
Chiefs traded No. 221 to Bills; Titans chose OLB Jaylen Harrell at 252
March 29
- Jets bring in DE Haason Reddick from Eagles in exchange for conditional 2025 third-round pick
Pick would have become second-rounder had Reddick played 67.5% of Jets’ 2024 defensive snaps and recorded at least 10 sacks. Reddick’s holdout ensured Philly’s pick will land in Round 3.
April 3
- Texans acquire WR Stefon Diggs, No. 189, 2025 fifth-rounder in exchange for 2025 second-round pick from Bills
Texans dealt No. 189 to Lions for Nos. 205, 249
April 12
- Titans obtain OL Leroy Watson from Browns for No. 227
Browns chose CB Myles Harden at No. 227
April 22
- Broncos add QB Zach Wilson, No. 256 from Jets for No. 203
In trade that gave Vikings J.J. McCarthy draft real estate at No. 10 overall, Jets sent No. 203 to Minnesota; Broncos chose C Nick Gargiulo at 256
April 27
- Broncos, Jets reach agreement on Day 3 of draft, sending DL John Franklin-Myers to Denver for 2026 sixth-round pick
May 9
- Texans obtain WR Ben Skowronek, 2026 seventh-round pick from Rams for 2026 sixth-rounder
August 9
- Cowboys add CB Andrew Booth from Vikings in exchange for CB Nahshon Wright
August 11
- Browns reacquire C Nick Harris from Seahawks in pick-swap deal that sent 2025 sixth-round pick to Seattle, 2025 seventh-rounder to Cleveland
August 14
- Falcons obtain OLB Matt Judon from Patriots for 2025 third-round pick
- Cowboys acquire DT Jordan Phillips, 2026 seventh-round pick from Giants for conditional 2026 sixth-rounder
Dallas carried Phillips on its active roster for two games, meeting minimum requirement for conditional sixth to transfer
August 22
- Eagles add WR Jahan Dotson, 2025 fifth-round pick from Commanders for higher of Philadelphia’s 2025 third-round choices, lowest two of Philly’s 2025 seventh-round selections
- Panthers acquire CB Michael Jackson from Seahawks in exchange for LB Michael Barrett
- Commanders bring in K Cade York from Browns for conditional 2025 seventh-round pick
Pick did not convey due to Commanders cutting York before he played in two games with team
August 23
- Bears land DE Darrell Taylor from Seahawks for 2025 sixth-round pick
August 24
- Bears acquire DT Chris Williams, 2025 seventh-round pick from Browns for 2025 sixth-rounder
August 26
- Seahawks add OLB Trevis Gipson from Jaguars for 2025 sixth-round pick
- Packers obtain QB Malik Willis from Titans for 2025 seventh-round pick
- Chiefs acquire DE Cam Thomas from Cardinals for 2025 seventh-round pick
August 27
- Chiefs obtain TE Peyton Hendershot from Cowboys for conditional 2026 seventh-round pick
- Bills add CB Brandon Codrington, 2026 seventh-round pick from Jets for 2026 sixth-rounder
- Titans land LB Ernest Jones from Rams for 2026 fifth-round pick
August 28
- Chargers acquire CB Elijah Molden from Titans for 2026 seventh-round pick
- Saints add DT John Ridgeway, 2025 seventh-round pick from Commanders, for conditional 2025 sixth-rounder
- Chargers bring in QB Taylor Heinicke from Falcons in exchange for conditional 2026 sixth-round pick
October 14
- Seahawks land DL Roy Robertson-Harris from Jaguars in exchange for 2026 sixth-round pick
October 15
- Jets win Davante Adams sweepstakes, sending conditional 2025 third-round pick to Raiders for All-Pro WR
Pick would upgrade to second-rounder if Adams earns first- or second-team All-Pro recognition or is on Jets’ active roster for 2024 AFC championship game or Super Bowl LIX
- Bills obtain WR Amari Cooper, 2025 sixth-round pick from Browns for 2025 third-rounder, 2026 seventh
- Vikings acquire RB Cam Akers, conditional 2026 seventh-round pick from Texans for conditional 2026 sixth-rounder
October 23
- Chiefs bring in WR DeAndre Hopkins in deal with Titans involving conditional 2025 fifth-round pick
Pick would become fourth-rounder if Hopkins both plays 60% of Chiefs’ remaining offensive snaps and Kansas City advances to Super Bowl LIX
- Seahawks acquire LB Ernest Jones from Titans in exchange for LB Jerome Baker, 2025 fourth-round pick
October 28
- Chiefs add DE Josh Uche from Patriots in exchange for 2026 sixth-round pick
October 29
- Ravens acquire WR Diontae Johnson from Panthers; teams swapping 2025 fifth-, sixth-round picks
- Vikings obtain LT Cam Robinson, conditional 2026 seventh-round pick from Jaguars in exchange for conditional 2026 fifth-rounder
Robinson’s playing time will determine if Jags pick climbs to a fourth-rounder and whether Vikings will end up receiving 2026 seventh
November 4
- Cardinals acquire OLB Baron Browning from Broncos, parting with sixth-round pick to do so
November 5
- Lions add OLB Za’Darius Smith, 2026 seventh-round pick from Browns for 2025 fifth-, 2026 sixth-rounders
- Bengals acquire RB Khalil Herbert from Bears for 2025 seventh-round pick
- Cowboys obtain WR Jonathan Mingo, 2025 seventh-round pick from Panthers for 2025 fourth-rounder
- Commanders land CB Marshon Lattimore, 2025 fifth-round pick from Commanders in exchange for 2025 third-, fourth-, sixth-round selections
Sixth-rounder going to New Orleans comes from pick Saints sent Commanders for John Ridgeway
- Steelers pick up WR Mike Williams from Jets for 2025 fifth-round selection
- Steelers bring in OLB Preston Smith from Packers for 2025 seventh-round pick
- Ravens add CB Tre’Davious White, 2027 seventh-round pick from Rams for 2026 seventh-round choice
- 49ers beat deadline buzzer by acquiring DT Khalil Davis from Texans for 2026 seventh-round pick
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/5/24
Today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Released: WR Chris Moore
Carolina Panthers
- Released: LB Jackson Mitchell
Houston Texans
- Signed: G Tremayne Anchrum
- Released: LB Shaun Bradley
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: LS Peter Bowden, OL Dennis Daley
- Released: RB Jake Funk, LB Tanner Muse
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: DL Jonah Williams
- Released: P Ryan Sanborn
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: LS Tucker Addington
New England Patriots
- Signed: LB Monty Rice
- Released: C Bryan Hudson
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: G Kyle Hergel, DE Trajan Jeffcoat, RB Xazavian Valladay
- Released: DE Niko Lalos
New York Jets
- Released: S Marquise Blair
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: DT Domenique Davis
- Released: WR Andy Isabella, LB Craig Young
San Francisco 49ers
- Released: K Anders Carlson
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: TE Thomas Odukoya, S Gervarrius Owens, G Cole Spencer, S Daryl Worley
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/4/24
Monday’s practice squad transactions:
Houston Texans
- Signed: G Jerome Carvin
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: WR Tyreik McAllister, TE John Samuel Shenker
Miami Dolphins
- Released: LS Matt Overton
New York Jets
- Signed: G Zack Bailey, G Matt Cindric
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: LB Dallas Gant
- Released: T Braeden Daniels
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: T Dylan Cook
Seattle Seahawks
- Released: LB Michael Dowell
Overton has been serving as the Dolphins’ primary long snapper for the past three games as Blake Ferguson has missed time on the reserve/non-football injury list. While Overton’s release could mean that Ferguson is on his way back to the field, it’s more likely just a result of Overton reaching the limit of three standard gameday elevations under one practice squad contract. Overton has been promoted for three contests now. In order to play in another game this year, Overton will need to be signed to the active roster or signed to a new practice squad contract.
Jets Not Expected To Trade CB D.J. Reed
Jets cornerback D.J. Reed is a quality defender in the midst of a strong season who plays on a 3-6 club and who is on an expiring contract. He has also made it plain that he intends to test free agency in March, all of which makes him an obvious trade candidate.
[RELATED: Jets Will Not Trade WR Garrett Wilson]
New York has indeed received trade inquiries on Reed, but the team is not expected to move the Kansas State product, per Dianna Russini of The Athletic (subscription required). With the soon-to-be 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers at quarterback and having already made a buyers’ trade for wide receiver Davante Adams, it stands to reason that the Jets would not make any sellers’ moves in advance of Tuesday’s trade deadline, despite their poor record.
GM Joe Douglas is also out of contract at season’s end, and while it appears he will finish out the year in his post, he obviously has plenty of incentive to retain the best players on the roster rather than ship them off for future draft picks. Though Rich Cimini of ESPN.com does not believe Douglas will make another splashy acquisition over the next several days, he does confirm that the Jets will not be sellers.
Douglas’ big misstep during his New York tenure was his decision to make quarterback Zach Wilson the No. 2 overall pick of the 2021 draft, but the Jets’ top exec does have some highlights on his resume. That includes signing Reed to a three-year, $33MM contract in March 2022, a deal that has yielded considerable return on investment.
Per Pro Football Focus’ metrics, Reed graded out as the 23rd-best corner out of 118 qualified players in his first year with the Jets, and PFF considered him the 16th-best CB out of 127 qualifiers last year. In 2024, he has taken his play to another level, with an excellent 81.8 PFF grade that represents the fourth-highest mark among 110 qualified cornerbacks. He has also surrendered an exceedingly low 57.7 QB rating, and his eight passes defensed put him on pace to set a new career-high in that category.
Reed’s platform-year performance has set him up nicely for another lucrative payday in the upcoming offseason. Whether that comes from the Jets – who may be under different leadership in 2025 and who will need to consider an extension for fellow boundary defender Sauce Gardner – remains to be seen. For now, though, Reed will try to help his current club make a postseason run.
Latest On Mike Williams’ Trade Market
Despite weeks of trade speculation, Mike Williams might end up sticking in New York. League sources told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler that the Jets could end up hanging on to the veteran wide receiver through the trade deadline. Fowler’s ESPN colleague, Rich Cimini, says that Williams is likely to stay put.
The Jets have been linked to a Williams trade for nearly a month, and the speculation naturally ramped up after the organization acquired All-Pro receiver Davante Adams. Williams was limited to only 19 snaps during Adams’ team debut in Week 7, and it was clear the offseason acquisition was on the outside looking in.
However, things changed quickly. Allen Lazard‘s injury has landed him on IR, leading to Williams garnering the third-most snaps at the position (behind Adams and Garrett Wilson) over the past two games. That uptick in playing time hasn’t led to an increase in production, as Williams has been limited to only a single catch over those two contests, but the Jets are clearly still comfortable throwing him out there.
As Fowler notes, Williams’ fate could be tied to the progress of the team’s other wideouts. Xavier Gipson has seen an inconsistent role during his sophomore campaign, and Malachi Corley made headlines the other night for his dropped-touchdown debacle. The organization could also turn to practice squad WR Jason Brownlee, who made a name for himself during the 2023 training camp.
Of course, Williams’ roster status will also be dependent on trade suitors. The 30-year-old has generated interest from the Steelers, Saints and Chargers, and while the Jets face an uphill battle to make the playoffs, they’re not going to give the veteran away for free. With only $2.3MM remaining on his contract, Williams doesn’t break the bank, so the Jets could ultimately decide to just stick with the veteran despite the underwhelming output.