Jets make roster swing on Wednesday, signing TE Connor Hulstein and DL Patrick Jenkins

The New York Jets completed a roster shakeup on Wednesday by signing tight end Connor Hulstein and defensive lineman Patrick Jenkins. The moves were paired with corresponding cuts, with safety Keidron Smith and defensive lineman Eric Watts moved off the roster in the process.

Hulstein’s signing adds another option at tight end during a period when NFL teams use the preseason and camp practice allotments to evaluate depth, blocking fit, and situational reliability. In roster terms, the Jets are using the transaction window to keep competition active at a position that can be central to both the passing game and the run game, particularly for teams that want multiple tight-end looks to match personnel groups.

Jenkins’ addition at defensive line offers the Jets additional front-four and rotation flexibility. Defensive linemen are often evaluated for gap discipline, ability to hold the line of scrimmage, and pass-rush usefulness in different alignments. Adding Jenkins gives the Jets another body to test in workouts and practice reps, while also creating the kind of churn common around the preseason roster build.

The Jets’ corresponding moves also underline how quickly camp rosters can change. Keidron Smith was waived as part of the same set of transactions, which suggests New York was adjusting its defensive back depth look and special-teams candidacy at the same time it moved on the line.

Watts’ situation carried an additional designation. Eric Watts was waived with an injury designation, and the report indicates he would revert to injured reserve if unclaimed. In practical terms, this kind of transaction reflects a team’s attempt to manage roster availability while acknowledging that a player’s current health status affects where he can contribute.

For Jets fans, these signings are best viewed as early roster-building indicates rather than guarantees of regular-season roles. In the NFL, transactions during camp frequently determine who earns practice-squad responsibilities, who challenges for a final roster spot, and who provides insurance for starters and regular rotation players as injuries arise.

What to watch next is whether either newcomer becomes a consistent presence in practice, particularly on downs where the Jets test their base and sub-packages. The Jets’ next cuts or roster adjustments will likely clarify whether Hulstein and Jenkins are being pursued as core depth pieces, special teams targets, or developmental options as the preseason roster trims begin to take shape.