Jets 53 Man Roster and Practice Squad Projection

We are still a few weeks away from the final roster cutdown day. Here is my best guess as to whom will be on the Jets' 53 man roster when that day comes. This is not what I would do. I am doing my best to try and figure out what the coaching staff and front office are thinking.

Active Roster (53)

QB (4): Ryan Fitzpatrick, Geno Smith, Bryce Petty, Christian Hackenberg

Even after what happened Friday night, I think the most likely scenario involves the Jets keeping four quarterbacks. Going into training camp, I felt like the only two scenarios where the Jets would not were Bryce Petty being the fourth guy or Bryce Petty being the second guy. Petty would go in the first scenario. Geno Smith would go in the second. After Friday, any chances of Petty being number four are going. Going into Friday's game, I felt like everything would need to go right for Petty over the last three weeks, and everything would need to go wrong over the last three weeks for him to be the number two guy. So far, that has happened, but we still have a long way to go. There was a lot to like in Petty's performance Friday, but you see the Texas gunslinger in some of the risky throws he makes. It's one thing to hit passes against a vanilla defense whose coaching staff's primary objective is to evaluate players. It's another entirely to do it against a defense cooking up schemes to trick you. I like Petty's progress a lot, but I still think he probably would benefit from sitting another year. If it is close, I think Geno sticks around. Geno could conceivably play his way off this team if he keeps playing like he did Friday, however, and hand the job to Petty.

RB (4): Matt Forte, Bilal Powell, Khiry Robinson, Tommy Bohanon

There isn't a whole lot of surprise here. I could do without Bohanon, but I think the incumbent stays unless he is thoroughly outplayed. It isn't easy to have that happen at the fullback position.

WR (5): Brandon Marshall, Eric Decker, Kenbrell Thompkins, Charone Peake, Jalin Marshall

Robby Anderson is making a push. He could end up knocking Peake or Marshall off or forcing the Jets to keep a sixth receiver.

TE (4): Kellen Davis, Quincy Enunwa, Jace Amaro, Zach Sudfeld

Davis is another beneficiary of the need to thoroughly beat an incumbent. I also think Sudfeld sticks around, although I think Enunwa and Amaro are the only two from this group with potential.

OL (9): Ryan Clady, James Carpenter, Nick Mangold, Brian Winters, Breno Giacomini, Ben Ijalana, Brent Qvale, Wesley Johnson, Brandon Shell

I am kind of frustrated with the Jets keeping nine, but I felt like this was the most likely outcome whenever I thought about it. You have the five starters. Ijalana is the primary backup at the important left tackle position. Qvale and Johnson have the ability to play multiple positions. Then you have Shell. The Jets just traded a fourth round pick for him. They would have egg on their face if they lost him trying to sneak him onto the practice squad so they probably will keep him. The fourth quarterback prevents them from keeping ten this year at least.

DL (6): Muhammad Wilkerson, Leonard Williams, Steve McLendon, Jarvis Jenkins, Deon Simon, Lawrence Thomas

No, I didn't forget Sheldon Richardson. He is beginning the season on the suspended list so he will not count against the 53 man roster until Week 2. The top four are all locks. Simon seems to be playing his way onto the team, and Thomas was impressing enough to get some work with the first team defense against Washington.

ILB (4): David Harris, Erin Henderson, Darron Lee, Bruce Carter

There aren't any real shockers here.

OLB (4): Lorenzo Mauldin, Jordan Jenkins, Freddie Bishop III, Mike Catapano

Trevor Reilly got the least number of snaps on defense for the Jets Friday of anybody not named Dee Milliner (who left the game with an injury). You at least have some degree of upside with these other guys. I don't see much with Reilly.

CB (5): Darrelle Revis, Buster Skrine, Marcus Williams, Juston Burris, Dee Milliner

No major shocks here, although I could see the Jets keeping a sixth due to Milliner's injury history.

S (5): Calvin Pryor, Marcus Gilchrist, Rontez Miles, Dion Bailey, Ronald Martin

Five safeties is a lot, but this is a spot where the team has depth and talent. Todd Bowles' defense also has a spot for safety/linebacker hybrids. Doug Middleton could easily play his way onto the roster in place of one of the Seahawks castoffs (Bailey and Martin).

ST (3): Nick Folk, Lac Edwards, Tanner Purdum

Obviously

Suspended List (1)

Sheldon Richardson

Richardson will be out for the season opener against Cincinnati.

Physically Unable to Perform List (1)

Devin Smith

I am taking a bit of a leap of faith by saying Breno Giacomini will make his way off the list. My guess is Smith starts the season on it.

Practice Squad (10)

Robby Anderson, Doug Middleton, Dakota Dozier, Dexter McDougle, Deion Barnes, Taiwan Jones, Darryl Morris, Bryson Keeton, Shelby Harris, Jarvis Harrison

This year's practice squad rules allow teams to keep 10 players, 4 of whom may have up to 2 years of experience so Idzik 12 alumni McDougle and Dozier are allowed to stick.