Jets Prep Gameday Roster for Bills By Making Trio of Moves
The New York Jets made three personnel moves on Saturday, resulting in the availability of a defensive tackle, a linebacker and an offensive lineman for the November 19 road game against the Buffalo Bills.
First, the Jets signed fan favorite Tanzel Smart back onto the active 53-man roster. The veteran defensive tackle was released earlier this week to free up a roster spot and subsequently re-signed to the Practice Squad. Now, he's back amongst the Top 53.
In addition to the Smart signing, the Green & White designated two Practice Squad player as gameday elevations. Interior offensive lineman Jacob Hanson and linebacker Marcelino McCrary-Ball are available to face the Bills on Sunday afternoon in Orchard Park.
The Jets did not elevate P-Squad offensive lineman Xavier Newman, who started at right guard in Week 10 against Las Vegas. The team may opt to plug Hanson, who is also an experienced center, into the vacant guard spot on Sunday. That would mean a seventh different starting offensive line combination for Gang Green this year.
Hanson inked an agreement to join the Jets' Practice Squad on November 6 after being waived by the Green Bay Packers during the preseason. The 2020 sixth-round selection has been active for 11 career games, totaling 75 offensive snaps.
McCrary-Ball likely fits in on special teams, a unit that's missing linebackers Chazz Surratt and Sam Eguavoen due to injuries. The second-year pro spent the 2022 campaign on the San Francisco 49ers' Practice Squad. McCrary-Ball did not make the final cut this past summer in San Francisco and subsequently joined the Jets on a P-Squad deal. He has yet to appear in an NFL regular season game.
Smart, who entered the NFL as a sixth-round draft pick by the Los Angeles Rams in 2017, has spent 3.5 seasons with the Jets' organization, mostly on the Practice Squad. The 29-year-old undersized defensive tackle has appeared in two games this season, totaling 28 defensive snaps and one tackle against the Chargers and the Raiders.
It's worth noting that the Jets chose to not call up a cornerback from the Practice Squad after starting slot Michael Carter II was added to the injury report on Saturday afternoon.
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