Every Jet Who Helped Their 53-Man Roster Odds in the Win vs. Steelers (Including Jason Sanders)

After falling to the Buccaneers to open the preseason, the Jets got their first exhibition win Friday night, shutting out the Steelers, 17-0.

We learned plenty from Gang Green’s victory. Geno Smith and the offense looked great in the opening drive, where he engineered a 10-play drive, going 7-for-7 for 65 yards and throwing a touchdown to Jelani Woods. At the same time, David Bailey recorded his first of (hopefully) many sacks.

The star players weren’t the only ones who shined. Several players on the bubble strengthened their chances of earning a spot on the 53-man roster with their performance. That being said, here are the five players who increased their chances of making the final roster.

Jason Sanders, K

Since joining the Jets in early June, Jason Sanders and Cade York have been in a back-and-forth competition for the starting kick job. While both players have made a compelling case over the last few months why they deserve the job, neither kicker had separated themselves until last week.

Sanders has emerged as the leader in the last few practices, particularly on Monday, when he converted 7-of-8 of his field goal attempts, while York made 5-of-8. The former All-Pro kicker strengthened his lead Friday night, nailing both his lone field goal and extra point attempt, while York missed his 59-yard attempt.

Although the battle is still far from being over, Sanders can establish himself as New York’s starting kicker with another solid week and by converting on all his field goal attempts.

Jelani Woods, TE

With Kenyon Sadiq, Mason Taylor and Jeremy Ruckert at the top of the Jets’ tight end depth chart, Jelani Woods was considered an afterthought for a roster spot. Teams rarely carry four tight ends on their active roster, and the former 2022 third-round pick has played in just four games over the last three seasons combined.

For Woods to give himself any chance to earn a spot, he needed to capitalize on every opportunity. So far, he’s done just that. With Sadiq sidelined due to a setback from his hernia surgery, Woods has put together a string of solid performances in practice and has made a strong case for the final 53-man roster.

Jelani Woods runs with ball. — Jelani Woods is giving the Jets every reason to feel confident in him as a depth option. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

He bolstered his chances against the Steelers, capping off the opening drive with a touchdown. Woods has also made an impact as a blocker in the two preseason games, earning a 70.2 and 67.4 pass-blocking grade, respectively, per Pro Football Focus.

Another strong showing in the team’s preseason finale against the New York Giants could secure his roster spot.

Samuel Womack III, CB

Another player who was widely considered an unlikely candidate for a roster spot was Samuel Womack. With New York crowded at cornerback, the former 2022 fifth-round pick faced a challenging path to making the final roster

But with multiple injuries to the cornerback room, Womack has taken advantage of every opportunity and has been one of the standout players in the Jets' training camp. His play in coverage stood out in the victory against the Steelers, where he recorded an interception, allowed no receptions across 20 coverage snaps, and earned an 89.9 coverage grade per PFF.

Womack’s play so far has been encouraging and has put him on the right path to securing a spot on the 53-man roster. However, he’ll need to prove that he can be a reliable contributor on special teams to solidify a spot with New York.

Chase Wilson, LB

Kiko Mauigoa, Marcelino McCrary-Ball, and Mykal Walker have been competing for the Jets’ top backup role for the last few months. While each has had some solid moments in practice, none has firmly established themselves as a legitimate candidate.

This, along with New York not upgrading at the position, allowed Chase Wilson to make his case for a roster spot. The undrafted free agent out of West Virginia played a critical role in the team’s shutout win, leading the team in tackles alongside Jordan Clark with six while also recording two pressures and a sack.

Wilson also played well in coverage, being targeted once across 24 coverage snaps. While Wilson still faces an uphill battle to make the roster, his performance against Pittsburgh showed that he deserves to be in the conversation. He’ll need to continue making plays in the preseason finale to give himself a chance.

Nate Lynn, LB

Talk about making a strong impression, Nate Lynn played a significant role in the Jets' win. Having just signed three days earlier, Lynn had the game of his life, recording four tackles, four pressures, and two sacks in 27 defensive snaps, earning an 85.9 pass-rush grade, per PFF.

Lynn remains a long shot to make the final roster given New York’s depth at edge rusher. However, his play against the Steelers has put him on the radar for the preseason finale. His previous experience with head coach Aaron Glenn in Detroit could also give him an advantage as he competes for a spot.

s/o Nate Lynn

"it was a no brainer to get him here" pic.twitter.com/bcLcKqn5Ey
— New York Jets (@nyjets) August 23, 2026

Still, the practice squad remains the likely outcome for Lynn. If he can replicate another strong showing against the Giants, though, New York may have a much tougher decision to make.

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