Jets Sign Rookie QB to Active Roster Hours Before Bengals Game
The New York Jets are adding another arm to the bullpen.
Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic revealed on social media that the Jets have elevated rookie quarterback Brady Cook for the Week 8 contest versus the Cincinnati Bengals.
Tyrod Taylor was downgraded to out with a knee injury, and Justin Fields will start the game, the team posted in a press release.
In a flurry of other moves, the Jets placed starting wideout Josh Reynolds on injured reserve. That means he is knocked out for a minimum of four games.
Linebacker Quincy Williams was activated off IR. WR Brandon Smith was signed to the 53-man roster. Rookie DT Payton Page was elevated from the practice squad.
WR Josh Reynolds was placed on IR. LB Quincy Williams was activated.
WR Brandon Smith was signed to the 53.
QB Brady Cook and DT Payton Page were called up from the PS for tomorrow’s game.
Let Brady Cook?
The Jets’ quarterback situation has been a turbulent ride so far this season.
Fields has started six of the seven games this season. Taylor started in Week 3 because Fields was ruled out with a concussion. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers game was the only other time that undrafted free agent Brady Cook was active this season.
Now Cook is just one injury away from stepping into an NFL regular-season game for the first time in his career. Or perhaps he is one bad half away from stepping in?
“In six starts, Fields has posted a 31.8 Total QBR, ranking 31st out of 33 qualified passers. He played one of the best games of his career against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 1, but his performance has regressed in recent weeks. The Jets have only seven touchdowns in the past six games, none in the first half,” ESPN’s Rich Cimini documented.
Last week, Fields performed so poorly in the first half versus the Carolina Panthers that he was benched. Head coach Aaron Glenn explained after the game that he was seeking a spark.
In a season where the Jets sit at 0-7 with no clear-cut future at quarterback, it’s getting to desperation time. There is nothing that screams desperation louder than a team potentially turning to an undrafted free agent quarterback that has never played a snap at the NFL level. Desperate times call for desperate measures.
Cook better have his head on a swivel. Fields plays a dangerous style of football that invites extra wear-and-tear. Plus, with how he has performed recently, you can’t rule out a surprising plot twist featuring Cook potentially stepping onto the field in a time of need.
More Injuries Pile up for the Jets in Week 8
The Jets ruled out six players on Friday, October 24. Two more were added to that pile on Saturday, October 25.
Taylor, who was projected to start at quarterback according to ESPN’s Rich Cimini, was downgraded to out with a knee injury. The Jets also downgraded starting pass catcher Josh Reynolds to out. He was battling a hip injury.
Gang Green is running out of bodies. They will be missing their top two wide receivers, their veteran quarterback, their star cornerback, their top special teams returner, and several depth pieces.
“That leaves rookie Arian Smith, Allen Lazard, and Tyler Johnson as their top receivers. They have a combined 18 receptions,” ESPN’s Rich Cimini wrote.
Detroit Lions Sign Veteran CB to Practice Squad, Waive Safety
The Detroit Lions have announced a handful of roster moves, ahead of their Week 7 contest against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Safety Loren Strickland was waived from the 53-man active roster. The team made the decision to bring back offensive lineman Kingsley Equakun and defensive lineman Chris Smith to the practice squad, days after being let go.
Also, veteran cornerback Kendall Fuller was signed to the practice squad.
According to Dolphins OnSI, "Fuller was released after missing six games in 2024 as the result of three different injuries, two concussions and a knee problem that landed him on injured reserve."
The 30-year-old was drafted by the Redskins back in 2016 in the third-round. He also has had stints with the Chiefs (2018-2019) and Commanders (2020-2023) before spending last season in Miami.
Fuller is entering his 10th season and has started 104 games since his collegiate days back at Virginia Tech. In 2024, he started 11 games for the Dolphins.
Detroit is dealing with a myriad of injuries in the secondary. Adding a veteran to the practice squad can add depth, should D.J. Reed, Avonte Maddox or Terrion Arnold need more time to recover form their injuries.
What potentially losing Brian Branch for a week means for Lions' defense
Detroit's coaching staff is not expecting defensive back Brian Branch, who will have his appeals hearing this week, to suit up after receiving word of his one-week suspension.
Dan Campbell was asked how the team would make up for losing the former second-round pick.
“He is, he’s an outstanding player for us. And so, it’s no different than when you lose guys that you really depend on and have a high production. So, the next guy’s got to step up and serve a role for us, help us out, and then it’s got to spread throughout the rest of your team, man," said Campbell. "Everybody else has got to pull a little bit more of that load.
"Between the corners and the linebackers and the D-line and offense and special teams. And so, we’ve just got to help each other out. I mean (Thomas Harper) Harp went in the other day, he didn’t play a ton, but it’s what we have seen in practice," Campbell added. "I mean, there’s some stuff in there, there’s a few things in there that are pretty encouraging. We don’t have a problem with him being in there. We’ll play with what we’ve got.”
