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New York Jets defender Kingsley Jonathan reacting after an NFL preseason game.
The New York Jets have brought back a familiar face.
Gang Green announced on social media that they have signed defensive lineman Kingsley Jonathan to the practice squad.
“Jonathan (6-4, 260) was signed by the Jets in June and spent the summer with the Green & White. He appeared in all three preseason games before he was waived after final roster cuts in August. The Syracuse product went undrafted in 2022 but was the first overall pick in the 2022 CFL Global Draft, which is limited to a pool of non-Canadian and non-American players. Kingsley, who was born in Nigeria and grew up in Baltimore, signed with the Bills in 2022 and had a stint with the Bears as a rookie before he returned to Buffalo. He played in 15 games for the Bills over three seasons and totaled 6 tackles and 3 QB hits on 121 defensive snaps,” Jets editorial contributor Susanna Weir wrote in a press release.
Jets Motivations for the Rest of the 2025 Campaign
At 3-9, it was extremely unlikely that the Jets were going to make the playoffs. They would have had to win out and would have required a ton of help from other teams.
That dream died when the Jets lost 34-10 to the Miami Dolphins in Week 14. For the 15th consecutive season, the Jets were officially and mathematically eliminated from postseason contention.
Despite that fun fact, the Jets still have four regular-season games remaining before they can turn in and head for the offseason.
So what are the Jets playing for? What is the piece of meat hanging in front of them on the treadmill?
Well, the eye in the sky never lies. For the players, it’s simple: the rest of this season is an open audition to the Jets and the 31 other teams in the NFL. What you put on tape is how teams evaluate you. That is especially true when, in theory, you have nothing to play for, are you still fighting hard? Are you still hustling to the ball?
Time for the Jets to Churn the Bottom of the Roster
To some fans, the Jets’ decision to sign Jonathan — a 27-year-old former undrafted free agent won’t grab your attention.
However, this is an example of general manager Darren Mougey never being complacent with his roster.
You can discover NFL talent in a lot of different ways. The Jets have found hidden gems on the waiver wire, through trade, free agency, and an alternative football league. You never know where it’s going to come from.
Maybe Jonathan will be something, maybe he won’t, but the Jets need to evaluate the talent on the roster and ones worth kicking the tires on outside of the building.
This is a developing story and we’ll provide new details as they become available.
Paul Esden Jr. covers the New York Jets for Heavy.com. A New York native, he co-hosts a morning show, “The Manchild Show with Boy Green Digital.” Before joining Heavy in 2021, Esden Jr. covered both national and New York sports for FanSided, Elite Sports NY, and The Score 1260. More about Paul Esden Jr.
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