Jelani

Woods

It’s an intriguing situation. The crafty route runner and problematically error-prone player has a chance to carve out a starting role on his new team. Jets No. 1 WR Garrett Wilson (knee) was placed on injured reserve earlier today. For those needing a wide receiver stash candidate, Mitchell fits the bill, though expectations must be tempered. The Jets declared CB Azareye’h Thomas, RB Khalil Herbert, LB Ja’Markis Weston, EDGE Braiden McGregor and TE Jelani Woods inactive for Week 11 against the Patriots.

Woods is a former third-round pick with size at 6-foot-7 and 253 pounds who has missed the last two seasons with injuries. Even in the best outcomes for Woods, he’s more likely to be taking away from Mason Taylor than carry standalone value himself. The Jets also claimed LB Cam Jones and OT Esa Pole off waivers from the Chiefs.

No surprise here. Due to injury problems, Woods hasn’t appeared in a game for the Colts since the 2022 season. At the time, Woods was a third-round rookie who shared tight end duties with Mo Allie-Cox and Kylen Granson. The Colts’ tight end rotation is long gone with the addition of first-round Tyler Warren and Woods is also on his way out of Indianapolis.

The Athletic’s James Boyd was first with the report. We already knew Woods was missing at least four months, but the Colts are going ahead and calling it now. It’s a brutal blow for the 2022 third-rounder after he missed all of 2023 with hamstring issues. He’ll now be headed into his age-26 campaign with only 25 career grabs. Woods is no longer worth a hold in Dynasty leagues.

It’s yet another tough break for Woods, who has battled through numerous injuries since being drafted in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Woods has caught 25 passes for 312 yards and three touchdowns in 15 career games but hasn’t taken a regular-season snap since 2022. After missing all of last season with nagging hamstring injuries, Woods will now hope to see the field at some point late in the 2024 season. With Woods out, fourth-year tight end Kylen Granson is expected to serve as the team’s starter. Granson is well off the fantasy radar at this time.

News of toe surgery is big blow for Woods, who missed the entire 2023 season with a hamstring injury. The 2022 third-rounder caught 22 passes for 312 yards and three touchdowns as a rookie, showing off his size and athleticism. Unfortunately, Woods’ toe injury will keep him out for at least the start of the regular season. Kylen Granson and Mo Alie-Cox are next up in the tight end room, but both are only fantasy targets in deeper leagues.

Hamstring injuries have limited Woods to just 15 games through his first two seasons — all of which were played in 2022. Last year’s hamstring injury sidelined Woods for all of 2023, but the third-year tight end is reportedly healthy and playing well this offseason. The Indy Star’s Joel A. Erickson pointed out in a recent article that Woods has focused specifically on working out his legs and strengthening his hamstrings, quads, and hips in hopes of limiting these types of injuries going forward. Woods, who ran a 4.61 at the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine, caught 25 passes for 312 yards and three touchdowns as a rookie and caught eight passes for 98 yards against the Steelers that season. He’s an athletic tight end capable of turning in big performances if he’s able to stay healthy and put everything together. Woods could make for a sneaky late-round flyer in fantasy drafts starts to tap into his potential in 2024.

Woods quietly missed most of organized team activities and all of the preseason with a hamstring injury that now requires a trip to injured reserve. The organization kept the athletic tight end’s status largely under wraps throughout the offseason and ultimately kept five tight ends on the active roster through cut down day. This now appears to be the reason why.

“Woods is the only Indianapolis tight end who’s shown he has the athleticism to stretch the field the way Goedert can,” the Star reported. Woods will compete with six other Indy tight ends this summer, with the team likely to keep three tight ends to start the season. A 2022 third-round pick, Woods as a rookie caught 25 of 40 targets for 312 yards and three touchdowns. He averaged 12.5 yards per catch and had an average depth of target of 10.7 yards. Like most rookie tight ends, Woods said he struggled to pick up the multiple roles he had to learn in last year’s offense. Woods profiles as a fine late-round dart throw who should at least have a chance to run consistent routes in Steichen’s offense.

It’s a new injury for Woods, one that could limit him at mandatory OTAs next month. Overshadowed by the addition of third-round WR Josh Downs, Woods is in line for a Year 2 leap under a new coaching staff in Indy. Woods projects for heavy snaps in the Colts’ redzone offense and could be the Week 1 starter after posting a 25/312/3 line as a rookie.