Jets waive Gus Hartwig from reserve/PUP, Eagles add DT Zion Wilson and release WR Brandon Hayes

The New York Jets and Philadelphia Eagles completed minor roster moves on Friday, June 5, 2026, swapping out fringe options as both teams sort out depth for the next phase of the offseason. New York waived center Gus Hartwig from its reserve/PUP list. Philadelphia, meanwhile, signed defensive tackle Zion Wilson and released wide receiver Brandon Hayes to make room for the newcomer.

Hartwig’s departure stems from a failed physical that pushed him onto the reserve/PUP list in May, according to CBS Sports, which reported the decision “per the NFL’s transaction log.” Reserve/PUP is a designation teams use during offseason readiness periods for players who cannot pass required medical clearance, and a waiver that comes off PUP essentially removes the player from the team’s offseason protected list. If another club claims him during the waiver window, Hartwig can land elsewhere; if not, he is on track to become a free agent.

For the Eagles, Wilson arrives as a rookie free agent out of East Carolina after his attempt to extend his college career ran into an NCAA roadblock. Philadelphia’s official announcement said the NCAA denied his request for a sixth collegiate season, ending his plan to transfer to Virginia in 2026, and instead turning his path toward the NFL. At 6-foot-3 and 316 pounds, Wilson began his college career on the offensive line and switched to the defensive front in 2024, then became a full-time starter in 2025.

Wilson’s statistical resume from East Carolina is the main reason Philadelphia is giving him an immediate look. The Eagles’ release credited him with 42 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and seven sacks in 2025. NBC Sports Philadelphia added contract context, reporting the deal included a $25,000 signing bonus and $225,000 in guaranteed money. That combination reflects a typical “get him into the room now” approach, even though it does not necessarily guarantee a regular-season role.

Philadelphia’s corresponding move was to release Brandon Hayes, a receiver who had been brought in following a tryout during the team’s Rookie Camp, the Eagles said. Hayes’ college background includes Southeastern Louisiana, where the Eagles described him as a first-team All-Southland Conference selection in consecutive seasons as a kick returner. Philadelphia also noted he was among the few FCS players to post kickoff return touchdowns in consecutive games and carried a 30.7-yard kickoff return average.

The underlying theme for Philadelphia is competition. Wilson joins a defensive tackle group that includes Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Moro Ojomo, Byron Young, Ty Robinson, Gabe Hall, and Uar Bernard, according to NBC Sports Philadelphia. In practical terms, a move like this often aims at creating options for practices and potentially the practice squad, rather than implying an immediate opening in the rotation. For New York, waiving Hartwig off reserve/PUP similarly indicates the Jets are tightening their interior depth decisions after medical clearance concerns in May, with the next question being whether he draws interest from other teams or clears waivers.

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