Jets Place Pro Bowler on Injured Reserve, Designate Two Gameday Call-ups

With special teams ace on the shelf, Gang Green elevates Craig James and Tae Hayes

The New York Jets sent one of their three injured cornerbacks to Injured Reserve and elevated two reinforcements from the Practice Squad ahead of Sunday's home game against the Philadelphia Eagles.

After missing a week of practice due to a hamstring injury, special teams ace Justin Hardee will spend at least the next four weeks on IR. The 2022 Pro Bowl honoree had made 25 consecutive appearances for the Jets prior to this week. 

The Jets will also be without cornerbacks D.J. Reed and Brandin Echols for their Week 6 clash against Philadelphia. The former has yet to clear the concussion protocol and the latter will miss his second straight game due to a hamstring injury.

In response to the rash of injuries, Gang Green designated cornerbacks Craig James and Tae Hayes as gameday elevations.

James, who was with the Jets throughout the preseason, appeared in last week's win over Denver as a Week 5 call-up. He logged 13 special teams snaps and one defensive play in the 31-21 victory. 

Hayes, who went undrafted out of Appalachian State in 2019, joined the Jets' Practice Squad on October 3. He last appeared in an NFL game in 2022 for New England.

With Hardee freeing up a spot, rookie offensive tackle Carter Warren was added to the 53-man roster on Saturday. The Jets placed the fourth-round draft pick on IR on August 30 before opening his activation window on October 4. Warren will provide offensive line depth after Alijah Vera-Tucker was lost for the season to a torn Achilles.

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