Updated 53-Man Roster Projections for New York Jets Post-Preseason Week 3
A lot has changed since initial projections were submitted for the New York Jets' final 53-man roster before the start of training camp.
The Jets have now had a full month's worth of practices and three preseason games. Players have been injured or suspended, emerged or taken a step back.
The change has not stopped, either. On Tuesday, September 1, the Jets will submit their first wave of roster cuts down to a 75-man limit. There may even be some additions at positions where the Jets are lacking depth.
That being said, the general complexion of the roster will be largely unchanged outside of a few small tweaks here and there.
Here's a look at what the Jets' final roster could look like.
Quarterback
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Starter: Ryan Fitzpatrick
Backups: Geno Smith, Bryce Petty, Matt Flynn
It's never ideal to carry four quarterbacks into a season, but it's also not ideal to have one of your quarterbacks get punched in the jaw by one of his teammates.
So, in essence, the Jets must treat this position as though they only have three players for the time being. Those final four words ("for the time being") are the key, because at some point, Smith will return. When he does, that could mean someone else is sent packing.
That "someone else" would probably be Matt Flynn, the one who has the least experience in the Jets offense and who has the least overall value. He was cut by the New England Patriots because he is dealing with a calf injury and has not been able to fully recover. He would only see the field in an emergency, which would be if Ryan Fitzpatrick is injured at some point before Smith is ready to return.
Running Back
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Starter: Chris Ivory
Backups: Bilal Powell, Zac Stacy, Tommy Bohanon
Chris Ivory is a lock as the starting running back. Bilal Powell has been the primary backup over the past couple of years and in training camp this year, so his spot is also locked in. Stevan Ridley begins the season on the physically unable to perform list, which opens up a roster spot for someone else.
Most teams may not carry a traditional fullback, but Tommy Bohanon could be an exception to that rule. According to Dom Cosentino of NJ Advance Media, "Bohanon's been getting a ton of reps with the first team, and [head coach Todd] Bowles last week said he was 'a pleasant surprise.' As of right now, it's difficult to see Bohanon not making the roster."
Rich Cimini of ESPN.com says that Daryl Richardson "has had a decent camp," but the team can't keep everyone. Maybe if they didn't have to carry four quarterbacks, they would have extra room for a fifth running back.
Wide Receiver
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Starters: Brandon Marshall, Eric Decker, Quincy Enunwa
Backups: Jeremy Kerley, Devin Smith, Chris Owusu
No one is going to push Brandon Marshall or Eric Decker out of a starting spot. The question is who will get the third spot. Quincy Enunwa has earned more snaps than any other wide receiver on the roster to this point in the preseason, according to Pro Football Focus, and should be considered one of the top candidates for that third starting spot for his versatility to line up outside and inside.
Of course, that spot has been Jeremy Kerley's in the past, but he is more of a niche slot receiver and has less value as a boundary receiver. In Chan Gailey's spread offense, Enunwa's ability to line up all over the field makes him the superior receiver.
Devin Smith has been sidelined with a rib injury over the past few weeks, but as a second-round pick, his spot is safe. Chris Owusu has been one of the pleasant surprises of training camp, and along with some impressive receiving ability, he also has value on special teams.
Dom Cosentino of NJ Advance Media points out that DeVier Posey has been getting reps with the first-team offense, but seven wide receivers is a lofty number.
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Tight End
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Starter: Jeff Cumberland
Backups: Kellen Davis, Jace Amaro
The Jets could be entering the regular season with only two tight ends on their active roster. Second-year tight end Jace Amaro suffered a shoulder injury early in the first preseason game, and he may not be ready for Week 1. If the Jets feel he won't be ready in the near future, he could be a candidate for the short-term injured reserve.
And if that's the case, there could be some transactions looming at the position.
That's especially true if the Jets are less than confident in Kellen Davis, who had three penalties in a flag-filled game against the Atlanta Falcons. Davis' experience and ability as a blocker—as well as the Jets' lack of depth at the position—should help him make the final cut.
Offensive Line
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Starters: D'Brickashaw Ferguson, James Carpenter, Nick Mangold, Willie Colon, Breno Giacomini
Backups: Wesley Johnson, Ben Ijalana, Brian Winters, Jarvis Harrison
The only starting spot that was ever truly up for grabs was at right guard. Incumbent Willie Colon did a fine job of holding it down against a slew of young up-and-coming backups, but there's still room for a couple of those backups on the roster.
Third-year guard Oday Aboushi is suspended for the first game of the season for violating the league's substance-abuse policy. If he is kept on the roster ("if" being the operative word), he won't count against the 53-man total until after that first game. That could leave extra room for someone who might otherwise find himself on the practice squad or the waiver wire.
Ben Ijalana has been the top backup tackle in training camp and the preseason, but he is currently dealing with a sprained knee, according to Rich Cimini of ESPN.com. He should be out two to three weeks, so he could be ready in time for the regular season. Wesley Johnson has the most value as a backup center, and there isn't anyone else currently on the roster who fits the bill for that spot.
Defensive Line
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Starters: Muhammad Wilkerson, Damon Harrison, Leonard Williams
Backups: Leger Douzable, T.J. Barnes
Five defensive linemen may not seem like much, but it's all the Jets really need. They have their starting three, who are all locked in at this point. Of course, that could change when Sheldon Richardson returns from suspension, but that would likely send Williams to the bench, where he can come along slowly rather than being thrust into the spotlight.
The two backup spots are up for grabs, but T.J. Barnes gets the nod as the best fit for a backup nose tackle on the roster. At 6'7" and 364 pounds, he is a load and can plug gaps on the inside to help the Jets execute their 3-4 scheme even when relying on backups.
Leger Douzable has been one of the Jets' top backups for the past several years, and has been getting some first-team reps at practice with Richardson out, according to Cosentino. His ability to play defensive end in the 3-4 and defensive tackle in four-man lines makes him a perfect backup option.
Linebacker
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Starting outside linebackers: Quinton Coples, Calvin Pace
Backup outside linebacker: Lorenzo Mauldin, Jason Babin, Trevor Reilly
Starting inside linebackers: David Harris, Demario Davis
Backup inside linebackers: Jamari Lattimore, Joe Mays
The only thing that has changed in the starting lineup at linebacker since the beginning of training camp is the strong-side linebacker spot. That has been Calvin Pace's job over the past seven years, and it appears to remain his spot in 2015—at least until Lorenzo Mauldin is ready to take it away from him.
That being said, Pace has been dealing with a groin injury and Mauldin has a sprained knee, according to ESPN.com's Rich Cimini. If there is any concern about the duration of those injuries and how those ailments will affect the playing time for those individuals, the Jets could be more liable to keep a little extra depth at the position in the form of Jason Babin and Trevor Reilly.
At inside linebacker, David Harris and Demario Davis continue to hold down the fort as starters. The question is who will back them up. The Jets could turn to veterans like Jamari Lattimore and Joe Mays, who have both contributed on special teams. Lattimore also had three tackles and an interception against the Falcons, which may have helped him play his way back onto the roster.
Secondary
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Starting cornerbacks: Darrelle Revis, Antonio Cromartie
Backup cornerbacks: Buster Skrine, Marcus Williams, Dexter McDougle, Dee Milliner
Starting safeties: Calvin Pryor, Marcus Gilchrist
Backup safeties: Jaiquawn Jarrett, Rontez Miles
The cornerback position is one of the strongest on the Jets roster. Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie are locked into starting spots, and as the two best pure man-coverage cornerbacks on the roster, it's only right.
Buster Skrine is likely to be the top slot cornerback, and Marcus Williams and Dexter McDougle have played well enough this summer to retain a roster spot. Darrin Walls is a tough cut, but if the Jets put Dee Milliner on the short-term injured reserve with his wrist injury, there could be an extra spot for him.
One could make a case to keep as many as seven cornerbacks on the roster, as ESPN.com's Rich Cimini did, but he did so at the expense of a fourth safety. Unless the Jets feel that one of their cornerbacks has the versatility to also play safety, that would be a dicey decision. That being said, Cimini even admits that he would have liked to put Rontez Miles on the roster.
Specialists
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Kicker: Nick Folk
Punter: Ryan Quigley
Long snapper: Tanner Purdum
There's really nothing to say here. The Jets have their specialists, they do not have any competitions for those spots and all three players are established at their positions.
Nick Folk had the best year of his career as a kicker in 2013, and took a step back in 2014, but there's not been any competition at his position and there's no reason to think the Jets would look elsewhere for their kicker. The same could be said at punter, where Ryan Quigley has been a steady presence over the past two years.
Generally speaking, no news is good news when it comes to the specialists.
Unless otherwise noted, all quotes obtained via team news release.
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