Monday Night Football Inactives: Jets' Veteran Defensive End and Two 2023 Draft Picks Land on List

Rookies Abanikanda and Barnes won't play vs. Bills

The New York Jets announced six gameday inactives for tonight's season opener against the Buffalo Bills in East Rutherford and veteran defensive Carl Lawson was a somewhat surprising presence on the list.

Two of Gang Green's selections from 2023 NFL Draft — fifth-rounder Israel Abanikanda and sixth-rounder Zaire Barnes — are also inactive in Week 1. Receiver Irvin Charles, undrafted rookie receiver Jason Brownlee and second-year offensive tackle Max Mitchell round out the Jets' inactive sextet. 

The 28-year-old Lawson missed significant time while dealing with a back issue during the month of August, but was practicing again leading up to the 2023 lid-lifter. Lawson started all 17 games in 2022, totaling 7.0 sacks. 

"He feels good, it’s just a matter of getting him back into the swing of things," said head coach Robert Saleh about Lawson's status as the veteran edge rusher returned to the practice field on August 29.

Abanikanda is the fourth running back. Barnes is a fifth linebacker while Brownlee and Charles are the sixth and seventh receivers on the depth chart. Undrafted rookie free agent Xavier Gipson took the fifth active receiver spot, presumably as a result of his kick return ability.

For the Bills, third-year safety Damar Hamlin appeared on the list of five gameday inactives. Hamlin, who suffered cardiac arrest on Monday Night Football this past January 3, made his miraculous return to game action during the preseason but will sit out tonight's contest. 

Bills' 2022 first-round cornerback Kaiir Elam is also inactive along with defensive end Kingsley Jonathan, offensive tackle Germain Ifedi and offensive guard Alec Anderson.

The game is set to kick off at 8:15 pm ET on ESPN/ABC.

Jets Inactives

RB Izzy Abanikanda

LB Zaire Barnes

WR Jason Brownlee 

WR Irv Charles 

DE Carl Lawson 

OT Max Mitchell

Bills Inactives

OG Alec Anderson

CB Kaiir Elam

S Damar Hamlin

OT Germain Ifedi

DE Kingsley Jonathan

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