The New York Jets finished the hardest part of roster season on August 31, when they cut to 53 and filled out a practice squad. What they have done since is a reminder that the squad is not a finished list. It is a working depth chart, and six days before the season opener in Nashville the Jets are still editing it.
The Jets have made four additions and two departures on their practice squad since forming it on August 31, signing quarterback Bailey Zappe, linebacker Mykal Walker and offensive linemen Kohl Levao and Brant Banks. The offensive line accounts for most of the movement.
What has changed on the Jets’ practice squad since August 31?
Four players have been added and two have come off in the space of three days. The Jets announced the original group of 16 on August 31, noting they could sign a 17th because defensive lineman Paschal Ekeji meets the league’s international pathway guidelines. On September 1 the club signed Zappe, Walker and Levao. On September 3 it signed Banks and released offensive lineman Marquis Hayes, who had joined the squad only three days earlier.
None of this is unusual for the first week of September, but the volume is worth noting. If you want the running list rather than the narrative, our Jets practice squad tracker carries every move as it is announced, and our guide to how the NFL practice squad works covers the rules that govern elevations, signings and protections.
Why did the Jets add a third quarterback to the practice squad?
Because the active roster holds only two. The Jets kept Geno Smith and rookie Cade Klubnik at quarterback on the initial 53, and Zappe signed the following day. Head coach Aaron Glenn had already set the expectation, saying a third quarterback would be “a practice squad guy” and adding, “We’re looking to add good players. If there’s another guy out there that we feel like can help this team, me and [GM Darren Mougey] will have a conversation to see how that goes.”
Zappe completed 60.9 percent of his passes this preseason, 14-of-23 for 135 yards with two interceptions. He was a fourth-round pick of New England in 2022 and started eight games across the 2022 and 2023 seasons, throwing for 2,053 yards with 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He spent 2025 on Cleveland’s practice squad before signing a futures deal with the Jets in January. His current standing is tracked on his Bailey Zappe player page, and the decision that put him there is covered in our report on Klubnik winning the backup job.
Why is the offensive line the busiest spot on the squad?
Three of the six moves involve offensive linemen. Levao was waived off the active roster on August 31 and signed to the practice squad on September 1. Hayes was signed on August 31 and released on September 3. Banks replaced him the same day.
Banks is a 6-7, 306-pound tackle who signed a reserve/futures contract with Green Bay in January and spent the summer there before being released on August 30. He played collegiately at Nebraska from 2019 to 2022 and Rice in 2023 and 2024, went undrafted in 2025, and appeared in two games for the Packers before being claimed by Tennessee that October. The churn here is not a crisis so much as a club still sorting its ninth and tenth linemen while the top of the group settles.
What do the injury settlements mean?
They close out two players who were hurt during the summer. On September 3 the Jets reached an injury settlement with Walker, who was released, and with running back Dominic Richardson, who was waived. Walker had signed to the practice squad two days earlier; he re-signed with the Jets in March and injured his calf in training camp. Richardson signed on August 23 and hurt his elbow in the preseason finale against the Giants.
Settlements are a separate mechanic from waivers, and the distinction matters for who can be re-signed and when. Our explainer on how the NFL waiver wire works sets out the difference between being waived, released and settled.
Does any of this change the kicking job?
It already did, a week ago. The Jets were awarded Blake Grupe off waivers on August 31 and released Jason Sanders the same day. Grupe played the final five games of 2025 for Indianapolis and hit all 11 of his field goal attempts, including a franchise-long 60-yarder against Seattle. Across 50 career games he has converted 81.9 percent of his field goals and 98 percent of his extra points. Sanders had been the presumed starter after Cade York was let go in late August, then missed an extra point and a 54-yard attempt against the Giants.
What does this mean for Week 1 in Nashville?
Very little on Sunday, and quite a lot if something goes wrong. The Jets open at the Tennessee Titans on September 13 at 1 p.m. ET on CBS. Practice squad players do not appear on a game-day roster unless they are elevated, so none of these names is likely to matter against Tennessee. What they represent is the club’s answer to the question of what happens if a lineman goes down in the second quarter, or if Geno Smith cannot finish a game. Those answers changed three times last week, which is worth watching more than it is worth worrying about.
Frequently asked questions
How many players can the Jets keep on the practice squad?
The Jets built their squad to 16 players on August 31 and said they were able to sign a 17th because defensive lineman Paschal Ekeji meets the NFL’s international pathway guidelines, which creates an extra slot that does not count against the standard limit.
Who did the Jets add to the practice squad after it was set?
Quarterback Bailey Zappe and linebacker Mykal Walker joined on September 1, offensive lineman Kohl Levao signed the same day, and offensive lineman Brant Banks arrived on September 3.
Why is Bailey Zappe on the practice squad instead of the active roster?
The Jets kept only Geno Smith and rookie Cade Klubnik at quarterback on the initial 53. Head coach Aaron Glenn said a third quarterback would be “a practice squad guy,” and Zappe signed the day after Klubnik was named the backup.
Who did the Jets release from the practice squad?
Offensive lineman Marquis Hayes was released on September 3, the same day Banks signed. The Jets also reached injury settlements with linebacker Mykal Walker and running back Dominic Richardson.
Did the Jets change kickers before Week 1?
Yes. The Jets were awarded Blake Grupe off waivers on August 31 and released Jason Sanders, who had been the incumbent after Cade York was let go in late August.
Can practice squad players play against the Titans?
Yes, if they are elevated. NFL rules let a club elevate practice squad players to the game-day roster for a limited number of games each season without signing them to the active roster.