3 Things to Know About Jets' Waiver Wire Pickups (Revolving Kicker Door Welcomes Blake Grupe)

Here's what Gang Green's waiver activity (or inactivity, in some aspects) means moving forward.

Blake Grupe was among the Jets' waiver wire claims on Monday. Find out about the former Colts kicker and the other new faces heading to Gotham. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Twenty-four hours. It took less than 24 hours for players excited to make the team on Sunday to be sent packing the day after by the Jets.

So is life in the NFL.

Gang Green walked back into practice with notable roster changes. After trimming their players to 53 and adding a few to the practice squad, the organization chose to bring in two new names into the fold off the waiver wire: linebacker Trevin Wallace from Carolina, and kicker Blake Groupe from Indianapolis.

We've been awarded K Blake Grupe and LB Trevin Wallace off waivers

We've released K Jason Sanders and waived OL Kohl Levao

— New York Jets (@nyjets) August 31, 2026

Both Wallace and Grupe solve significant concerns for the Jets heading into Week 1. But their addition also raises additional questions, as well.

I'll break down the three biggest things to know following New York's busy day on the waiver wire now.

Grupe shakes up kicking room

Jets head coach Aaron Glenn made it clear: Grupe's pickup was nothing more than creating competition for Jason Sanders.

"You always want to have competition, and we always try to get competition at the position," Glenn said. "So, looking forward to him coming in and being a part of this team and seeing how that goes."

How did that competition work out? Well, following Monday's practice, the Jets released Sanders from the roster to make room for Grupe.

Out with the old, in with the new.

Despite a poor final preseason game, Grupe was very good last season with the Colts, going a perfect 11-for-11 on field goal attempts. After going 18-for-26 for the Saints to begin the year, he caught on with Indianapolis and saved his career. Now, he joins a Jets team that has tried out five different kickers already for the starting job. Of note, Grupe has mostly kicked in domes throughout his career. Time will tell how he handles the elements.

Eventually one of these guys has to work out. Right?

Wallace solves major need

As waiver wire pickups go, Wallace was probably the best based on last year's work.

He has started 20 games and was a third-round pick three years ago. He also is very solid in pass coverage. In 2025, Pro Football Focus graded his pass coverage at 64.5 last year, ranking 23rd among 88 qualified linebackers. Compared to Jamien Sherwood's 65th ranking in the same slate, the Jets may have upgraded at linebacker depth significantly with this pickup, especially when you break down the fact how important defending the pass will be this year.

Trevin Wallace's arrival certainly bolsters the Jets' linebacker room, which already looked solid to begin with. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Of note, Mykal Walker was placed on injured reserve, so the team will carry five linebackers at this time. They'll need that depth with Demario Davis at 37, and the Jets opting for a "multiple" style look in their fronts.

No QB pickup

It's newsworthy that the Jets did not bring in a veteran quarterback off the waiver wire like Will Levis or Joe Milton. Instead, it looked like the team was bringing Bailey Zappe back to the practice squad after releasing him on Sunday, as reported by ESPN's Rich Cimini; however, Cimini's report may have been premature, as Zappe was absent from New York's official announcement.

It's important to remember that, because of the 49ers, teams can put a QB on the game-day inactive list but still have him ready for the game. If the Jets were to bring Zappe into that mold, they would need to put him on the active roster before Week 1, though.

In the end, this move was about fourth-round rookie Cade Klubnik. The Clemson product won the backup quarterback job and played well enough to leave the Jets unafraid of needing a veteran signal-caller passer Geno Smith.

"(Cade is) our backup quarterback," Glenn said. "He'll do a good job."

Until their belief in Klubnik fades, the Jets won't need to bring in a veteran signal-caller.

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