Jets Unveil Official Roster Sans Morstead, Bawden and Kuntz

Undrafted rookie receivers Jason Brownlee and Xavier Gipson make the cut

The New York Jets set their initial 53-man roster on Tuesday afternoon, but more changes are expected.

For one, the Green & White will need to clear a spot in order to re-sign punter Thomas Morstead. The team presumably released the vested veteran in order to protect a younger player from the waiver wire.

There could be at least one member of the initial 53-man roster heading to the short-term Injured Reserve list.

"I just felt like every guy I spoke to, I just know they’re going to be on a roster somewhere, someone’s practice squad, either ours or somewhere else," said head coach Robert Saleh on cutdown day.

Gang Green opted to keep only two quarterbacks, cutting third-stringer Tim Boyle with the probable intention of inking him to the Practice Squad.

Four tight ends survived the initial cut, but seventh-round rookie Zack Kuntz was not one of them. Kenny Yeboah earned the final spot behind Tyler Conklin, CJ Uzomah and Jeremy Ruckert.

Seven receivers, including undrafted rookies Jason Brownlee and Xavier Gipson, landed roster spots for the time being.

"It took a moment for me to take it all in to realize I made the team," said Gipson.

Ten offensive linemen, including five tackles, made the cut, but rookie Carter Warren is rumored to be heading to short-term IR.

Dalvin Cook and Breece Hall, who practice together for the first time on Tuesday in Florham Park, are part of a four-man stable of running backs. Fullback Nick Bawden was not included in the group.

"Now, I feel like I'm part of the Jets. Now, I feel like I'm part of the team," said Cook, who had been away from the team on a short paternity leave. "Now, I get to dig deep."

The incredibly deep defensive line unit features 10 members, including six ends highlighted by first-round talents Jermaine Johnson and Will McDonald.

Gang Green rostered five linebackers, including sixth-round rookie Zaire Barnes.

Only four spots were open to safeties, meaning impressive undrafted rookie Trey Dean has been subjected to waivers. The Jets kept five cornerbacks with a sixth (Brandin Echols) on the suspended list.

Here's the positions-by-position breakdown of the Jets' initial 53-man roster.

OFFENSE

Quarterback — 2

Aaron Rodgers, Zach Wilson

Running Backs — 4

Breece Hall, Dalvin Cook, Michael Carter, Israel Abanikanda

Receivers — 7

Garrett Wilson, Allen Lazard, Mecole Hardman, Randall Cobb, Xavier Gipson, Jason Brownlee, Irvin Charles

Tight Ends — 4

Tyler Conklin, C.J. Uzomah, Jeremy Ruckert, Kenny Yeboah

Offensive Tackles — 5

Duane Brown, Mekhi Becton, Max Mitchell, Billy Turner, Carter Warren

Interior O-linemen — 5

Connor McGovern, Joe Tippman, Wes Schweitzer, Laken Tomlinson, Alijah Vera-Tucker

WR Jason Brownlee (16) / © Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

DEFENSE

Defensive Tackles — 4

Quinnen Williams, Quinton Jefferson, Solomon Thomas, Al Woods

Defensive Ends — 6

John Franklin-Myers, Carl Lawson, Jermaine Johnson, Will McDonald, Bryce Huff, Micheal Clemons

Linebackers — 5

CJ Mosley, Quincy Williams, Jamien Sherwood, Zaire Barnes, Chazz Surratt 

Safeties — 4

Jordan Whitehead, Tony Adams, Adrian Amos, Ashtyn Davis

Cornerbacks — 5

Sauce Gardner, DJ Reed, Michael Carter II, Bryce Hall, Justin Hardee

LB Zaire Barnes (53) / © Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

SPECIALISTS

Kicker — 1

Greg Zuerlein

Long Snapper — 1

Thomas Hennessy

READ MORE:

Roster Cutdown Tracker: Knight, Kuntz Waived 

Jets' One-Two RB Punch Practicing Together on 'Exact Same Plan' 

SI's Breer Says One Issue Can Keep Jets Out of Playoffs

DE Bryce Huff Streaks into Regular Season