The Jets made another move on the offensive line Thursday, signing Kohl Levao from the practice squad to the active roster. They also brought kicker Blake Grupe and cornerback Jordan Clark back on practice squad deals and released safety John Saunders Jr. from the practice squad, according to the team’s announcement.
Levao’s promotion is the headline here. He played in all three Jets preseason games this summer and spent much of last season on the practice squad. The 6-foot-6, 350-pound lineman played center and guard at Hawaii before a stop with the San Antonio Brahmas. He has been around the team long enough to know the system, and now he has a spot on the 53-man roster.
The timing comes with the Jets dealing with injuries up front, including Dylan Parham’s knee issue. Glenn Naughton wrote about the offensive line depth after Nick Dawkins and Jimmy Morrissey joined the practice squad this week and raised Levao as a possible call-up. The Jets have now made that move. Whether he sees the field against Chicago is a separate question, but they have another interior option available.
Grupe and Clark were waived Tuesday when Jason Sanders was signed to the active roster. Both cleared waivers and are back with the organization two days later. Grupe gives the Jets a kicker on the practice squad behind Sanders, while Clark returns after appearing in two games this season and taking 17 special teams snaps, per the team. The club released Saunders Jr., who had joined the practice squad in September, to make room.
It’s a fair amount of shuffling for one week, but the key change to the Jets Roster is Levao moving up. The Jets have retained Grupe and Clark as practice squad depth after Tuesday’s cuts, while the line gets another player who already knows the building.
