Jets' Practice Squad Tracker: Team Fills All 16 Spots

Trey Dean, Tim Boyle and Zack Kuntz return; Gang Green adds two players from 49ers

The New York Jets began building their Practice Squad on Wednesday afternoon and filled it out on Thursday.

Amongst the highlights, the Green & White were able to retain UDFA safety Trey Dean. The rookie, who was a five-year contributor for Southeastern Conference member Florida, was one of the Gang Green's tougher cuts this year. Seventh-round draft pick Zack Kuntz made it through waivers and onto the Practice Squad as well. Third-string quarterback Tim Boyle is also staying with the Jets as a PS member.

Headlined by the aforementioned trio, the Jets officially announced the signing of 10 PS players on early Wednesday evening — LB Sam Eguavoen, CB Craig James, LB Caleb Johnson, OL Adam Pankey, CB Nehemiah Shelton, DT Tanzel Smart, DL Marquiss Spencer. 

One day later, Joe Douglas and Co. kept defensive lineman Jalyn Holmes in the fold while using the five remaining PS spots on players who were with other teams this past preseason — RB Xazavian Valladay (Steelers), OL Jason Poe (49ers), OT Ryan Swoboda (Lions), LB Marcelino McCrary-Ball (49ers), S Tyreque Jones (Titans).

Each team is permitted to carry 16 members on their Practice Squad with only six spots available for players who have accrued more than two seasons of service time.

Practice Squad

QB Tim Boyle 

The former Green Bay Packer will serve as an emergency QB option behind second-stringer Zach Wilson. Boyle has familiarity with Aaron Rodgers and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett.

QB Tim Boyle (7) / © Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

S Trey Dean 

The undrafted rookie made multiple stops in all four preseason games, totaling 22 tackles during summertime action. He lost a tightly-contested competition with Ashtyn Davis for the fourth safety spot on the 53-man roster.

LB Sam Eguavoen 

Claimed by the Jets after the Hall of Fame Game in early August, the former Miami Dolphins' linebacker was productive over the course of three preseason outings. Eguavoen has 66 NFL regular season appearances under his belt. 

DL Jalyn Holmes

The 2018 fourth-round draft pick joined the Jets on August 14 and proceeded to make 2.0 sacks in the preseason game against the Bucs.

CB Craig James 

The cornerback returns for a second season as a Jets' Practice Squad member. He played 14 regular season games for the 2019 Philadelphia Eagles.

LB Caleb Johnson 

Undrafted coming out of The U, the rookie linebacker logged at least one tackle in every preseason game. He totaled 11 stops over the four appearances.

S Tyreque Jones 

The undrafted rookie made 11 tackles over three preseason games with the Tennessee Titans. The 6-foot-2 safety made 24 starts over his final two years at Boise State.

TE Zack Kuntz  
As long as he cleared waivers, the plan was always seemingly to stash the seventh-round draft pick on the Practice Squad for the start of the season. The physical unicorn totaled six receptions for 41 yards over the four-game preseason schedule, but he was charged with two costly holding penalties against the Buccaneers.

TE Zack Kuntz (81) / © Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

LB Marcelino McCrary-Ball 

After spending the entire 2022 campaign on the 49ers' Practice Squad, he played in all three exhibition contests this summer. He led the team with nine tackles in the preseason finale against the Chargers.

OL Adam Pankey 

The offensive lineman returns to the Jets' Practice Squad where he spent much of the 2022 season. He initially entered the pro ranks as an undrafted free agent with the Packers in 2017.

OG Jason Poe 

The small-school product went undrafted in 2022 and held a spot on the 49ers' Practice Squad as a rookie. A former offensive linemate of Patriots' starter Cole Strange at Chattanooga, Poe is an intriguing developmental prospect.

CB Nehemiah Shelton 

The Jets apparently saw something in Shelton during his short preseason stint. The USFL standout signed with the Green & White on August 17. 

DT Tanzel Smart 

Having made a career out of being an NFL reserve, Smart appears to bring locker-room value as well as a knowledge of the defense. Those who fell in love with Smart's family through HBO's "Hard Knocks" docuseries will be happy to see him again in the final episode.

DT Tanzel Smart (79) and LB Caleb Johnson (43) / © Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

DL Marquiss Spencer 

The former Denver Broncos' draft pick spent the last seven weeks of the 2022 season on the Jets' Practice Squad and returns there for the start of the 2023 campaign.

OT Ryan Swoboda 

Like undrafted rookie receivers Jason Brownlee and Xavier Gipson, Swoboda turned some heads at the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl as the tallest player in the 2023 draft class. He saw 34 offensive snaps with the Lions this preseason after signing a UDFA deal in May.

RB Xazavian Valladay 

The rookie out of Arizona State signed with Pittsburgh on August 15 but didn't survive cutdown day. He carried seven times for 26 yards in the Steelers' preseason finale. 

READ MORE:

Relax! Morstead and Bawden Return to Jets' Active Roster

Roster Cutdown Tracker: Knight, Kuntz Waived

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

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

Jets Cut Former Preseason Hero after Thumb Injury

DE Bryce Huff Streaks into Regular Season