Transaction Flurry: Jets Sign Three PS Players, Release Former First-Rounder

CB Craig James returns while two offensive tackles are sent packing

The New York Jets stockpiled a trio of cornerbacks onto their Practice Squad on Tuesday.

Releasing three PS players to make room, the Jets brought back Craig James while picking up Tae Hayes and Kalon Barnes. In corresponding transactions, the team dropped reserve offensive tackles Cedric Ogbuehi and Chris Glaser along with defensive back Nehemiah Shelton from the Practice Squad. Ogbuehi is a former first-round draft pick.

The moves happened on the players' official off day with a Week 5 road affair against the Denver Broncos on the horizon. The Jets are relatively healthy at cornerback on the active roster although Brandin Echols suffered a hamstring injury in Week 4 against Kansas City.

All three freshly-signed defensive backs have NFL regular season game experience with James's 21 career appearances leading the trio.

James, who entered the league as an undrafted free agent in 2018, also has plenty of familiarity with Gang Green. He spent the 2022 campaign on the Jets' Practice Squad and landed back on the unit this September after training camp. James temporarily lost his PS spot when he was cut to accommodate the signing of quarterback Trevor Siemian last week.

Hayes has bounced around since going undrafted out of Appalachian State in 2019, making regular season cameos for five different NFL franchises. He made 7 of his 13 career appearances in 2022, playing five games for Carolina before joining New England for a pair.

Barnes, a 2022 seventh-round draft pick, made his NFL debut with the Minnesota Vikings. He logged a handful of special teams snaps during Weeks 16 and 18 last year as a rookie.

Former First-Round Tackle Lands on Jets' Practice Squad

Glaser's release is a bit of a surprise considering he was a PS gameday elevation in Week 4. The 6-foot-4 Glaser spent some of the 2022 campaign on the Jets' Practice Squad and eventually returned to the unit on September 22. 

Meanwhile, Ogbuehi also sees his second stint with the Jets this year come to a close. After being released in May, the 31-year-old bookend re-joined the team by signing to the Practice Squad on September 21. Ogbuehi, who was drafted at No. 21 overall by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2015, made seven appearances (five starts) for the the Green & White in 2022. 

Shelton spent the season's first four weeks as a PS player. The USFL product initially joined the Jets' 90-man preseason roster on August 17.

Jets' Practice Squad (Updated Oct. 3)

CB Kalon Barnes

WR Irvin Charles

S Trey Dean 

CB Tae Hayes

DL Jalyn Holmes

CB Craig James

S Tyreque Jones

TE Zack Kuntz

LB Marcelino McCrary-Ball

OT Adam Pankey

OL Jason Poe

QB Trevor Siemian 

DT Tanzel Smart

DL Marquiss Spencer

WR Malik Taylor 

RB Xazavian Valladay

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