Jets Make Two Special Teams and Backfield Roster Adjustments, Releasing K Cade York

The New York Jets released kicker Cade York on Monday, a transaction that reflects the team’s ongoing roster calibration heading into the regular season. The move also came alongside a separate backfield decision, as the Jets waived running back Sam Scott with an injury settlement.

For York, the release closes the Jets’ current chapter with the position group, at least for the time being. In the NFL, the kicker job can be decided by performance in preseason opportunities and early camp reps, and roster churn in late August is often driven by a mix of form, consistency, and who the coaching staff trusts in pressure situations such as late-game field goals and kickoffs.

The second move centered on Scott. By waiving a player “with an injury settlement,” the Jets indicated that the team and the player reached an agreement tied to the player’s injury status, which is a procedural step that can allow both sides to part ways while avoiding certain team-retention obligations. Injury settlements are common in roster management, particularly during preseason windows when teams must reduce numbers and finalize initial depth charts.

These moves are notable not because they change the Jets’ public identity, but because they alter the margin for error in two areas that can swing field position and offensive tempo. Special teams phases can decide games in small increments, and backfield depth matters in a league where injuries can quickly reshape carry distribution. The Jets’ willingness to move two players who represent distinct roles underscores the team’s focus on the best-available 53-man configuration.

Both transactions also come at a time when clubs are finalizing their positional hierarchy. Even when a release is not tied to a specific headline-grabbing circumstance, it can report that the staff has decided it needs different skill-set options for workouts, practice phases, and roster cut-downs. For the players involved, the immediate next step is to seek opportunities elsewhere, though the ability to land with a new team can depend on health, timing, and what each club’s roster needs in the coming weeks.

For Jets fans, the key follow-up is who fills the gaps. The release of York raises questions about the team’s kicker competition and who will handle practice and game-day duties as August turns into September. The waiver of Scott with a settlement raises the question of which running backs the Jets will prioritize for early-down and backup roles, especially as the team moves through the next set of preseason evaluations.

As with any early-season roster process, the practical effects will become clearer when the Jets name the remaining kicker and backfield depth for the next round of team action. Until then, these two decisions stand as straightforward roster housekeeping, but they also show the Jets placing emphasis on roster readiness across both special teams and offensive depth.