It’s been a busy month of August for the New York Jets as general manager Darren Mougey attempts to round out his roster. With the preseason winding down and the 2025-26 campaign rapidly approaching, Gang Green has been hard at work preparing.
On Wednesday, those preparations included bringing in defensive tackle Harrison Phillips and making another move for fellow tackle Jowon Briggs. Thursday morning revealed that Phidarian Mathis was being released to help make room on the team.
The transactions don’t stop there. Unfortunately for two players, it’s the end of the line. Per the team, defensive end Rashad Weaver is going on injured reserve and cornerback Ryan “Bump” Cooper was released.
Jets Place DL Rashad Weaver on Injured Reserve & Release CB Ryan Cooper
This is a downright brutal break for Weaver. Assuming an injury settlement isn’t reached, this ends his 2025 season before it even began. The veteran pass rusher was attempting to build on a strong early-offseason stretch with the Jets. Now, he’s sent back to the drawing board via the trip to IR.
It’s been a tumultuous ride for Weaver since entering the league in 2021 as a fourth-round pick. His best year with the Tennessee Titans was quite easily 2022, his sophomore effort. In 16 games, he recorded all 5.5 of his career sacks and all 15 of his quarterback hits. The former Pittsburgh standout then joined the Houston Texans last season but only played in three contests. Weaver turns 28 in November.
Cooper gets released just 10 days before his 24th birthday. He entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2024 following a two-year collegiate stint at Oregon State. The California native appeared in one regular-season game for the Baltimore Ravens as a rookie. In Week 8 of the regular season, he logged six special teams snaps with no other statistics.
After leaving Baltimore, Cooper briefly signed with the Seattle Seahawks and stayed there starting in November. He then wound up with the Miami Dolphins, a Jets AFC East rival, and eventually found his way to New York on July 27.
Updated Look at New York’s Defensive Depth With Week 1 Approaching
These moves undoubtedly leave the Jets with new outlooks.
At defensive end, Weaver’s loss further weakens an already questionable room. Don’t get it twisted: Will McDonald IV and Jermaine Johnson is a formidable duo. With Johnson coming back from a serious injury, though, there’s always risk. New York would be in better shape if it had better depth than Micheal Clemons, Braiden McGregor, Eric Watts and others. Weaver’s experience was valuable.
The cornerback room might be fine, considering Cooper’s profile. At the top of the depth chart, Sauce Gardner‘s reputation speaks for itself. He has a shiny new contract extension to prove it. He’s complemented by veteran signing Brandon Stephens, who head coach Aaron Glenn is a huge fan of already. There are also familiar faces (Michael Carter II) and newcomers with upside (third-round pick Azareye’h Thomas) as well.
In the grand scheme of things, the Jets should be OK. They had to clear roster spots for their new trade acquisitions anyway. Still, it’s never a good thing to see a veteran’s season end or a young player’s tenure with the organization get cut short.
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