New York Jets sign Nate Hairston back to the 53-man roster (Report)

Joe Douglas and the New York Jets have re-signed cornerback Nate Hairston which places him on the 53-man roster.

A day after he found himself on the outside looking in, Nate Hairston is back.

On Sunday, Joe Douglas and the New York Jets re-signed Hairston, which means he’ll ultimately be placed on the 53-man roster, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

Cornerback Nate Hairston, released on Saturday, is headed back to the Jets, per source.

— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) September 6, 2020

“Cornerback Nate Hairston, released on Saturday, is headed back to the Jets, per source,” Fowler tweeted.

Hairston, 26, experienced an up and down 2019 campaign—his first with the Jets. The former Indianapolis Colts defensive back finished with an interception, three passes defensed and 24 total tackles (two for loss) in 11 games (six games started) for Gregg Williams’s unit a year ago.

Hairston was drafted in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL Draft by the Colts and is linked to Jets’ assistant general manager Rex Hogan, who spent the 2017 and 2018 seasons in Indy before rejoining the Jets.

Hairston is just one of many former Colts who have Hogan ties. Quincy Wilson, Matthias Farley and Pierre Desir are two other defensive backs who qualify for that category. (The actual list stretches even further.)

The cornerback’s addition means Douglas will have to shave one. The odds-on favorite to be bumped is Vyncint Smith, who can be shifted to the IR after undergoing surgery on a core-muscle issue earlier this summer. That is, of course, not a guarantee by any means.

Hairston joins a room with Blessuan Austin, Pierre Desir, Brian Poole, Arthur Maulet and Quincy Wilson. Rookie Bryce Hall starts the season on the Reserve/Non-Football Injury list.