These New York Jets roster-bubble players are gaining steam
These three under-the-radar players are gaining steam in training camp and could have a chance to sneak onto the New York Jets’ 53-man roster.
3. Takkarist McKinley, DE
“Takk” McKinley has emerged as a surprise for the Jets to start the summer. McKinley has shown pure dominance throughout training camp, registering sacks in team drills on a daily basis.
The Atlanta Falcons selected McKinley in the first round of the 2017 NFL draft. While he has not lived up to expectations, it is never too late to turn things around.
The pass-rusher had a solid start to his NFL career, recording 13 sacks in his first 31 games. However, everything went downhill from there, as the UCLA product only managed to record 4.5 sacks over the next two seasons.
That prompted McKinley to bounce around the league, as he has been on six different teams since 2020.
McKinley earned a non-roster invite to mandatory minicamp. He impressed the Jets coaching staff and front office, prompting them to sign the 28-year-old pass rusher.
McKinley has seen an increased amount of reps throughout training camp, as two-time Pro Bowler Haason Reddick is in the midst of a contract holdout. If McKinley continues to impress, he could snag a roster spot on a Jets team that values pass-rushing depth along the defensive line.
2. Tarik Cohen, RB
Jets head coach Robert Saleh said the following about running back Tarik Cohen: “He looks good, man. He’s got his juice back.”
Cohen, 29, was selected by the Chicago Bears in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL draft. However, injuries have derailed the speedy back’s career.
Cohen has yet to appear in an NFL game since he tore his ACL and MCL in Week 3 of the 2020 season. This left him sidelined for the remainder of the 2020 season and the entirety of the 2021 season. Cohen later tore his Achilles tendon in the 2022 offseason.
Cohen was cleared to play last summer, and he signed with the Carolina Panthers practice squad. However, Cohen spent the majority of the 2023 season on the injured reserve list with a hamstring injury. The 29-year-old was released by the Panthers on May 10.
The Jets signed the running back on May 29 to battle for RB4 with Xazavian Valladay and Israel Abanikanda. From what is being reported at 1 Jets Drive, all signs point to Cohen winning the battle so far.
Cohen is a very dangerous player on special teams; he was an All-Pro kick returner in 2018 and has collected 1,613 return yards throughout his NFL career. With new kickoff rules that Cohen believes are a great fit for his skill set, he is one of the top candidates to win the Jets’ returner role.
1. Malik Taylor, WR
Malik Taylor, 28, was signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a UDFA following the 2019 NFL draft. Taylor spent his first NFL season on the Packers practice squad.
The UDFA spent two seasons with the Packers while appearing in 25 games, during which he recorded seven receptions for 80 yards and one touchdown. The Ferris State product also played 313 special team snaps throughout that span.
The Packers released Taylor before the 2022 season, and the Jets signed the receiver to their practice squad toward the end of the season.
Taylor impressed the Jets during training camp last summer, which landed him a spot on the Jets’ practice squad. New York elevated Taylor to the 53-man roster for three games, in which Taylor caught three passes for 13 yards. Most notably, he drew a 30-yard pass interference in overtime against the Giants in Week 8, directly leading to the Jets’ game-winning field goal.
With Xavier Gipson sidelined for 1-2 weeks, Taylor has seen an increase in snaps recently. On Friday, the 28-year-old receiver made a leaping catch over rookie cornerback Qwan’tez Stiggers on a 50+ yard touchdown pass from Tyrod Taylor. The veteran wideout received another touchdown from Aaron Rodgers on a five-yard slant.
In a wide receiver room that has plenty of question marks after Garrett Wilson, Taylor has an opportunity to make the roster, especially considering his experience on special teams.
