The New York Jets happened to lose a young football player with loads of potential from their practice squad yesterday.
Second-year defensive tackle Jonathan Marshall was claimed through waivers by the Pittsburgh Steelers, joining their 53-man roster. Following an injury to Chris Wormley, the Steelers needed to make a move. Unfortunately for the Jets, their promising 2021 draft pick got scooped up.
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New York Jets have Jonathan Marshall taken from practice squad:
When the Jets drafted Marshall in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL draft, there was much to be excited about.
Marshall tested on a generational level athletically in the pre-draft process. Relative to the defensive tackle position, Marshall graded in the 99th percentile with a Relative Athletic Score (RAS) of 9.99, highlighted by speed and explosion. Tough blow for the Jets to lose someone of his upside in just his second year.
He was on the 53-man roster last year as a rookie but only appeared in four games, totaling one quarterback hit over 76 snaps played. This year, Marshall just fell short of the 53 to Nathan Shepherd. The Jets have only kept four defensive tackles this year with Quinnen Williams, Sheldon Rankins, Solomon Thomas, and Shepherd.
When there was an injury to Rankins a few weeks ago, there was a chance that Marshall could have been elevated to the active roster. However, the Jets went with promoting the other defensive tackle on the practice squad, Tanzel Smart.
Marshall has some undeniable gifts that give him loads of upside in the future. Especially so late in the season, it is difficult to lose him to waivers. It seemed as if he would have had an opportunity to make this roster in 2023. Following the Marshall transaction, the Jets made an addition to their practice squad with a familiar player in offensive lineman, Eric Smith.