New York Jets Practice Squad Promotion Score on Kickoff Return

Before Sunday’s game, the New York Jets promoted running back Kene Nwangwu from the practice squad.

To a certain extent, the promotion made sense. Running back Breece Hall has been dealing with a knee injury for two weeks and although he was able to play against Seattle, the Jets wanted to make sure they had some coverage at the position.

Additionally, Nwangwu had experience as a kickoff returner and that is an area where New York has struggled to make big plays this season.

He made sure of that in the second quarter on Sunday.

The Jets were already 14-0 when Seattle scored a touchdown early in the second quarter, cutting the lead from three to 14-7.

Seattle kicked to Nwangwu and he caught the football at the 1-yard line.

Nwangwu began moving left when he reached the 25-yard line and spotted a seam toward the left dash. At 30, he had most of the Seahawks’ coverage behind him. He evaded the kicker, outran him at the Seattle 40-yard line and outran a final defender to reach the end zone.

For Nwangwu, it was the fourth kickoff return for a touchdown in his four-year career.

He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft out of Iowa State and spent three seasons with the Vikings. In his rookie season, he returned two kickoffs for touchdowns, was named NFL Special Teams Player of the Week and was named to the Pro Football Writers of America All-Rookie Team.

He returned another kickoff for a touchdown in 2022.

He missed all of 2023 due to injury and was released by the Vikings in August of his year as part of final roster cuts. The New Orleans Saints claimed him off waivers on August 28, but waived him the next day after he failed a physical exam.

Nwangwu signed with the Jets’ practice squad in September.

Early in the game, rookie running back Isaiah Davis scored his first NFL touchdown on a shovel pass from quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Earlier, Rodgers, who turns 41 on Monday, threw a block on an end-around to wide receiver Malachi Corley and two plays later threw a touchdown pass to Davante Adams.

The Jets (3-8) currently have slim playoff hopes. Team management, led by owner Woody Johnson, has effectively declared the season over. During the bye week, he fired general manager Joe Douglas, two months after firing head coach Robert Saleh.

Saleh’s move didn’t pay off, as interim coach Jeff Ulbrich went 1-5 into Sunday’s game.

Leading up to the game, the Jets placed offensive tackle Tyron Smith on injured reserve with a neck injury. He will miss the next four games with six remaining. It’s possible he won’t return this season. Olu Fashanu started for him again as a left winger.