The Jets made three roster moves the day before Detroit, and one of them ended up on the scoreboard. Sterling Shepard, promoted from the practice squad for the game, caught the two-point conversion that tied it at 24 in the fourth quarter.
On September 26, 2026, the Jets signed wide receiver Jamaal Pritchett to the 53-man active roster and elevated kicker Jason Sanders and wide receiver Sterling Shepard for the Week 3 game at Detroit. Per the club, it put Pritchett in line for his first NFL appearance.
If the difference between signing a practice-squad player and elevating one is new to you, our guide to how the NFL practice squad works covers it. This page is about the three Jets who moved on Saturday.
Who is Jamaal Pritchett?
A 5-foot-8, 175-pound receiver who has been in the building since May 2025. The Jets signed him as an undrafted free agent that month, and he spent last season on the practice squad. In the 2026 preseason he saw action against Tampa Bay and caught three passes for 24 yards, according to the club.
Why did the Jets need another receiver for Detroit?
The room was short. Adonai Mitchell was one of seven Jets inactives at Ford Field with the finger injury that had limited him in practice, and the club had already placed Omar Cooper Jr. and Arian Smith on injured reserve earlier in the month. Those moves are covered in Omar Cooper Jr.’s move to injured reserve.
What did Sterling Shepard do against the Lions?
He caught the two-point conversion from Geno Smith that tied the game at 24 with the Jets rallying late. Shepard joined the practice squad earlier this month after spending the summer with the Houston Texans — covered when the Jets added Sterling Shepard to the practice squad.
The club lists 10 NFL seasons for Shepard: eight with the Giants from 2016 to 2023 and two with Tampa Bay in 2024 and 2025, totaling 443 receptions, 4,800 yards and 25 touchdowns. He appeared in 13 games for the Buccaneers last season. His profile is on the Sterling Shepard player page.
Why is Jason Sanders still being elevated rather than signed?
The club has not said, and it would be guesswork to supply a reason. What is on the record: Saturday’s move was Sanders’ third consecutive elevation, per the club, and he has kept kicking. He made field goals of 52, 51 and 33 yards at Tennessee, a 32-yarder against Green Bay, and a 42-yarder at Detroit. Blake Grupe was on the inactive list again for Week 3, as he was in Weeks 1 and 2.
Sanders’ season is tracked on the Jason Sanders player page. How the three moves played out on the field is in the Jets-Lions Week 3 recap.
Frequently asked questions
Who did the Jets sign before the Lions game?
On September 26, 2026, the Jets signed wide receiver Jamaal Pritchett to the 53-man active roster.
Which players did the Jets elevate for Week 3?
Kicker Jason Sanders and wide receiver Sterling Shepard were elevated from the practice squad for the game at Detroit.
Who is Jamaal Pritchett?
A 5-foot-8, 175-pound receiver who signed with the Jets as an undrafted free agent in May 2025 and spent last season on the practice squad.
What did Sterling Shepard do against Detroit?
Shepard caught Geno Smith’s two-point conversion pass that tied the game at 24 in the fourth quarter.
How many times has Jason Sanders been elevated?
The Week 3 move was his third consecutive elevation from the practice squad, according to the club.
Why was Adonai Mitchell not available?
Mitchell was inactive at Detroit with a finger injury. He had been limited in practice and listed as questionable.