New York Jets

Jason Sanders

PK

Sanders won the kicking battle over Cade York this summer despite neither instilling confidence in the Jets' coaching staff. The team elected to sign Blake Grupe, who also has not shown enough to start, giving Sanders a chance in Week 1. If Sanders has a strong week, he will likely be elevated once more in Week 2 before the team must decide who will truly hold the starting job throughout the regular season.

Tim Patrick

WR

Patrick was ruled out ahead of Sunday's contest after Friday's practice. The wide receiver's groin injury seems to be lingering, so the 32-year-old will spend some time on IR. Patrick will be eligible to return from IR after four games, meaning Isaiah Williams and Arian Smith will likely see a greater share of reserve opportunities with the Jets' wide receiver corps.

Kene Nwangwu

RB

Nwangwu was designated as doubtful after Friday's practice, so the eventual ruling that he will not suit up for Sunday's contest is not surprising. The depth running back and primary kick returner for the team continues to deal with a back injury he likely suffered during a practice session earlier in the week. With Nwangwu out, wide receiver Isaiah Williams will likely add kick return duties alongside his punt return duties in Sunday's game.

D'Angelo Ponds

CB

Toward the end of training camp, there was optimism that Ponds would make his NFL regular-season debut against Tennessee. The rookie second-rounder was a limited participant in all three practices this week, but the doubtful tag indicates that he's likely not quite ready to return from a calf injury that he sustained in late July. If Ponds is ruled out for Week 1, the Jets would lose a special-teams asset and depth in the secondary behind starting corners Brandon Stephens, Jarvis Brownlee and Nahshon Wright.

Blake Grupe

PK

It looked like Grupe would be the Jets' starter for 2026 after he was claimed off waivers from the Colts on Aug. 31. However, the Jets have opted to elevate Jason Sanders from the practice squad to the active roster ahead of Sunday, so Grupe figures to be inactive for Week 1. Grupe made all 11 of his field-goal attempts and each of his 10 extra-point tries over his final five games of the 2025 regular season as a member of the Colts.