Jets Sign 6 More Players to Complete Their Practice Squad

Mid-August DL Signee Jalyn Holmes Returns, Joined by 5 Who Played for Other Teams Randy Lange

The Jets signed fifth-year defensive lineman Jalyn Holmes, who was with them the second half of August, plus five other players who spent their summers with other teams, to fill the final six slots of their practice squad. The first 10 Jets practice squad players were announced Wednesday.

The five signed from other teams are running back Xazavian Valladay, offensive linemen Jason Poe and Ryan Swoboda, linebacker Marcelino McCrary-Ball and safety Tyreque Jones.

Holmes (6-5, 283) was the fourth-round pick (102nd overall) out of Ohio State by Minnesota in 2018 and had spent time on the rosters of the Vikings, Saints, Giants and Bears before being signed by the Jets as a free agent on Aug. 14. He played in only the Tampa Bay preseason game with the Green & White, totaling four tackles and two sacks in 29 defensive snaps.

Swoboda’s claim to fame so far is his outstanding stature – he’s been listed at 6-10 and 325 pounds. He had 39 starts at tackle for Virginia before finishing his college career at Central Florida, then was signed by Detroit as an undrafted free agent in May. He played in all three of the Lions’ preseason games, seeing 34 offensive snaps in all.

The Jets are certainly in the running for the tallest practice squad, leading off with Swoboda (who measured 6-9½ at his pro day) and 6-8 TE Zack Kuntz.

Valladay (6-0, 200), signed out of Arizona State as an undrafted free agent by Houston in May, was waived in mid-August. Pittsburgh acquired him and he had 12 carries for 30 yards and one catch for 22 yards in the Steelers’ final two preseason games.

Poe (6-2, 295) is a first-year player who was signed after the 2022 NFL Draft as an undrafted free agent by San Francisco out of Mercer University in Georgia. He spent all last season on the 49ers’ practice squad. He played in all six preseason games the last two summers, at both guard spots, with one start in this year’s opener and 224 offensive snaps in both preseasons combined.

McCrary-Ball (6-0, 222), similar to Poe, is a first-year player signed as a UDFA after the ’22 draft by San Fran out of Indiana. He spent the entire ’22 season on the 49ers’ practice squad but he had very active preseasons the last two years. In 2022 he started two of the 49ers’ three preseason games, then this year he started the PS opener. In the two summers combined he played in all six Niners PS games with 28 tackles, two PDs and one interception.

Jones (6-2, 205) was singed by Tennessee as a UDFA out of Boise State in May. He played in all three of the Titans’ preseason games and finished tied for the team lead with 11 tackles while adding a pass defense.

Here is the full Jets practice squad, grouped alphabetically by position: