The 2025 NFL season is finally here and the New York Jets hope that this season will be much different than their last 14. Aaron Glenn is the new head coach, they have a new quarterback, and a new philosophy to help them turn around their 14-year playoff drought.
Before the team can even think about that, they have to battle the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 1 at MetLife Stadium.
The return of Aaron Rodgers to MetLife to face his former team will be the main storyline in New Jersey.
With just a couple hours before kickoff, it’s time to see which players are inactive.
Jets Inactive List
- DT Leonard Taylor III
- TE Jelani Woods
- OT Esa Pole
- EDGE Braiden McGregor
- WR Allen Lazard
The biggest inactive surprise happens to be Lazard. The veteran receiver agreed to a contract restructure that lowered his cap hit and make him easier to trade. New York didn’t make a move with the veteran, though, electing to keep him on the 53-man roster. Now, Lazard is a healthy scratch against his former quarterback.
Taylor could be useful as a pass rushing defensive tackle, but the Jets may not view the Steelers as an optimal matchup for him, as Pittsburgh projects to run the ball heavily in Aaron Rodgers’ first start.
Woods and Pole are newcomers to the roster and need more time to learn the system. Pole is also dealing with an ankle injury, which held him out of Friday’s practice.
It’s important to remember that Alijah Vera-Tucker is not on this list because he was placed on IR after suffering a torn triceps injury during the week of practice. His season is over.
Steelers Inactive List
- QB Skylar Thompson
- EDGE Nick Herbig
- OG Max Scharping
- OG Andrus Peat
- EDGE Esezi Otomewo
- DT Derrick Harmon
Harmon, the team’s first-round pick this year, was ruled out before the team traveled to New Jersey. Outside of him, there aren’t any major surprises for the Steelers. They are healthy going into today’s contest.
The only major question was veteran defensive tackle Cameron Heyward, but he will suit up after settling his contract dispute on Saturday.
