The Jets signed quarterback Hendon Hooker from the practice squad to the active roster on Saturday, the team announced.
Defensive lineman Kingsley Jonathan and offensive lineman Kohl Levao also earned promotions to the 53-player roster.
The Jets placed running back Isaiah Davis, offensive lineman Xavier Newman and tight end Mason Taylor on injured reserve in corresponding moves. They also elevated running back Raheem Blackshear and defensive back Samuel Womack III for Sunday’s game against the Bills.
Hooker signed with the Jets’ practice squad on Dec. 18 and was elevated for Week 17, though he did not play.
The Lions made Hooker a third-round pick in 2023, and he appeared in three games for Detroit in 2024. He spent time on the Panthers’ practice squad earlier this season.
Jonathan initially signed with the Jets in June and spent the summer with the Green & White before being released out of the preseason. He signed to the practice squad Dec. 9.
Levao has spent this season on the practice squad, earning an elevation for a Week 10 contest against the Browns. He did not appear in the game.
Davis was diagnosed with a concussion in the fourth quarter of the Jets’ Week 17 loss to the Patriots. He appeared in 16 games with the Jets this season, totaling 236 rushing yards and a touchdown.
Newman, who is dealing with a knee injury, appeared in five games, seeing action on 31 offensive snaps and three on special teams.
Taylor, who has a neck injury, last appeared in a Week 14 loss to the Dolphins. Taylor played 13 games, with 11 starts, and he leads the team with 44 receptions.
Breece Hall may have played his final down in a Jets uniform.
The Jets downgraded Hall to out for Sunday’s game against the Bills. The running back had been listed as questionable to play due to a knee injury.
Hall had set career highs with 243 carries and 1,035 yards as one of the brightest spots of a 3-13 Jets team in 2025. The 2022 second-round pick tore his ACL as a rookie, but he’s appeared in 48 games over the last three seasons. For his career, Hall has 755 carries for 3,398 yards and 18 touchdowns to go with 188 catches for 1,642 yards and nine touchdowns as a receiver.
Hall is in the final year of his rookie deal, so the Jets could try to re-sign him or use a franchise tag to keep Hall from hitting the open market. If neither of those occurs, Hall should be a prominent name in the early days of free agency in March,
The Panthers can make the playoffs in 2025, either by beating the Buccaneers on Saturday or by watching the Falcons beat the Saints on Sunday. If that happens, Carolina will be making a very specific type of history.
Via Doug Clawson of CBS Sports, the 8-8 Panthers would be the first team since the 1970 merge to make the playoffs despite having zero wins as the favorite.
The 3-13 Jets also have no wins as the favorite. Obviously, they won’t be making the playoffs. (Again.)
The Panthers aren’t favored in Week 18 at Tampa Bay. If the Panthers win the NFC South, they';; undoubtedly be a significant underdog in the wild-card round, against the Seahawks, 49ers, or Rams.
Carolina victories in 2025 include upset over a pair of NFC playoff teams — at the Packers and at home against the Rams. If the Panthers qualify for the postseason, they’ll have no expectations. They’ll hear talking heads say throughout the week that they’re one of the worst teams to ever make it to the playoffs.
It’s give the Panthers a natural chip on the shoulder, with no pressure whatsoever to win. The No. 5 seed (whoever it is) may look past the Panthers, especially with (if the Bears and Eagles win their wild-card games at home) a rematch coming against the NFC West rival that earns the No. 1 seed (49ers or Seahawks).
Carolina has already beaten L.A., despite being 10.5-point underdogs. While there’s a pretty good chance they won’t catch the Rams napping again, the Seahawks or 49ers could be vulnerable to a Charlotte surprise.
Bills quarterback Josh Allen (foot) returned to practice on Friday, getting in limited work.
Coach Sean McDermott said earlier in the day that Allen is “good to go” for Sunday’s game against the Jets. The injury report confirmed that, as he does not have a designation.
It is unclear how much Allen will play.
The Bills ruled out linebacker Terrel Bernard (calf), defensive tackle DaQuan Jones (calf) and safety Jordan Poyer (hamstring) for Sunday.
Defensive end Joey Bosa (hamstring) returned to limited work and is questionable to play. Tight end Dalton Kincaid (knee) and defensive tackle Jordan Phillips (ankle) also are questionable.
Bills quarterback Josh Allen didn’t practice the last two days, but head coach Sean McDermott said that’s going to change on Friday.
McDermott said on WGR 550 that Allen will take part in the team’s final practice session of the week. McDermott also said that Allen is “good to go” for Sunday’s game against the Jets despite the foot injury he’s been dealing with the last couple of weeks.
McDermott did not say how much Allen would play, so it may just be a cameo appearance in the final regular season game to be played at Highmark Stadium.
The Bills will not have linebacker Terrel Bernard (calf), defensive tackle DaQuan Jones (calf) or safety Jordan Poyer (hamstring) this weekend. All three were ruled out by McDermott.
