The “next man up” mentality is more prevalent than ever in the NFL’s preseason.
When key players miss time due to injury throughout the summer, the guys behind them get can’t-miss opportunities to showcase their skill sets.
With 90 players on the roster, it’s easy to get lost in the sauce, but injuries are commonly the reason why overlooked players find their way onto the team.
An overlooked injury to the New York Jets’ defense might pave the way for an underdog story in 2026.
Jets linebacker Mykal Walker is now expected to miss 2-3 weeks, essentially the remainder of the summer. Walker, who is competing for the team’s third linebacker spot, thrived at the end of the 2025 season and stood out in last week’s preseason opener.
Walker’s injury provides undrafted rookie Jaden Keller with a prime opportunity to stand out.
Keller has a huge opportunity to close the preseason
Keller signed with the Jets in the spring after standing out at rookie minicamp. The Virginia Tech product totaled 50 tackles (22 solo), 2.5 tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks, and a forced fumble in 11 games throughout the 2025 season.
He also flashed his athleticism at Virginia Tech’s pro day, earning a 9.70 Relative Athletic Score (RAS). Keller ran a 4.50 in the 40-yard dash with excellent explosiveness and agility numbers, along with a sub-7-second three-cone drill. For someone at 6-foot-2 and 237 pounds, those are excellent testing results.
Throughout all phases of the offseason program, Keller has been making plays. He was just one of two players to earn a spot on the 90-man roster after rookie minicamp, joining veteran offensive lineman Landon Young.
Since initially making the team, Keller has stood out throughout mandatory minicamp and training camp.
Even during the team’s first preseason game last week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he compiled a solid outing with two tackles (zero missed tackles), two stops and a 68.3 defensive grade at Pro Football Focus.
However, during the preseason opener last week, he didn’t enter the game until late, playing 22 snaps, as the Jets have a crowded LB3 competition featuring Marcelino McCrary-Ball, Walker and Kiko Mauigoa, who each flashed against Tampa Bay.
Now, with Walker out for the remainder of the preseason and the organization having seen plenty of McCrary-Ball in the regular season to know he is a defensive liability, the Jets should be giving Mauigoa and Keller extended looks these next two weeks.
Mauigoa’s roster spot seems locked up as a fifth-round pick from last year’s draft, where he flashed at times throughout his rookie season and played a solid role on special teams.
Keller, in particular, has a chance to turn some heads. While it would take a magical two games to earn a spot on the 53-man roster, given how crowded the team’s LB room is, a practice squad spot is certainly in play.
For someone who began his time with the Jets as a rookie minicamp invite, a practice squad spot to begin the season would be a fantastic place to find himself.
We will see how the remainder of the preseason shakes out, but Walker’s injury has given Keller a golden opportunity to earn a practice-squad spot. Tonight in Pittsburgh, the former Hokie must take advantage of it.
