One of the New York Jets’ most surprising training camp stars thus far? Tight end Jelani Woods.

However, he is in a room with a high level of competition. Mason Taylor, Kenyon Sadiq, and Jeremy Ruckert are all roster locks.

Despite that, though, could Woods carve out a spot on the Jets’ 53-man roster?

Woods’ history

Woods has had a fascinating journey in the NFL.

The 27-year-old was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the third round of the 2022 NFL draft. His tools were on full display throughout the pre-draft process, measuring in at 6-foot-7 while posting a perfect 10.0 RAS (Relative Athletic Score) at the NFL’s Scouting Combine, the highest mark in league history.

Facing high expectations as he entered his rookie campaign, the Virginia product had a mediocre rookie campaign, posting 312 yards and three touchdowns on 25 receptions in 15 games (two starts). He started to come alive late in the season, though, posting 18 catches for 233 yards over the final six games.

Ever since then, however, the injury bug has been ruthless against Woods.

After suffering setbacks with a hamstring injury, he was sidelined during 2023’s OTAs before he could establish momentum. A turf toe injury, which required surgical repair, left him out for the entire 2024 season.

Indy felt the ripple effects of his medical complications as they finished dead last in tight end yards over that span.

In the 2025 draft, the Colts used their first-round pick to select Penn State tight end Tyler Warren. Woods’ efforts over the summer weren’t sufficient enough to earn him a roster spot, and he found himself on the cutdown day waiver wire.

As Jets X-Factor first reported, the Jets swooped him up with their top waiver claim.

However, Woods struggled to make his presence felt during the regular season. He appeared in only four of the Jets’ games in 2025 and was targeted just three times.

To some surprise, though, Gang Green brought him back for 2026 on a one-year deal worth just over $1 million.

Now, he is looking to make the team’s 53-man roster.

Woods’ chances of sticking around

Most teams elect to carry four tight ends, and the Jets did that last year.

However, this year is much different.

The Jets have significant assets invested in their top two tight ends, Mason Taylor and Kenyon Sadiq, who were each top 50 picks, particularly Sadiq, who was the 16th overall selection in this year’s draft.

Beyond that, there is Jeremy Ruckert, who signed a two-year extension during the 2025 season. He is expected to take on a smaller role as a pass catcher due to the tandem of Taylor and Sadiq, but still be utilized as a key run-blocker, an area where he took impressive strides last season.

Then, there is the chess piece, Andrew Beck. Although he is listed as a fullback, he has played tight end throughout his career and caught two touchdowns for the Jets last season, which was the second-best mark on the team.

Beck also played a huge role in the team’s run blocking and special teams. On the team’s historic special teams unit last year, Beck played the most snaps with 315, while throwing several integral blocks to facilitate big returns.

As we broke down, the Jets should do everything in their power to retain Beck. Losing him would be a huge loss for the team, as he is a player who does the dirty work to help produce big plays on both offense and special teams.

Overall, the Jets’ skill position rooms are very crowded. Aside from tight end and fullback, there are four running backs locked in (Breece Hall, Isaiah Davis, Braelon Allen, and Kene Nwangwu) and six receivers; however, the WR room may ultimately be configured.

Excluding Woods and counting Beck, the Jets have at least 25 offensive roster locks, including two quarterbacks, four running backs, a fullback, six wide receivers, three tight ends, and nine offensive linemen.

That’s at the very least. The Jets could elect to carry a 10th offensive lineman, similar to most teams, although that may not make very much sense based on the talent at their disposal.

Aside from his production, the biggest factor working in Woods’ favor is his familiarity with offensive coordinator Frank Reich, who was Indianapolis’ head coach when the Colts drafted Woods in 2022.

That history, alongside Woods’ strong training camp showing thus far, has him firmly in the roster conversation. However, with the room already being crowded, a good summer alone won’t be enough to crack the roster.

Woods will need to carry this level of play into the preseason. If he does, a spot on the 53-man roster is certainly plausible.