Jets sign veteran tight end, elevate two P-Squad players for Sunday night

The New York Jets swapped one tight end for another between their active roster and Practice Squad.

After waiving rookie Brenden Bates, the Jets replaced him on the 53-man roster with veteran Anthony Firkser. New York subsequently moved Bates, who cleared waivers, onto the P-Squad and into the spot vacated by the New Jersey-born Firkser.

The Jets also announced game day elevations for P-Squad defensive backs Kendall Sheffield and Jalen Mills for the October 20 primetime affair in Pittsburgh.

The 29-year-old Firkser has been a game day elevation in Weeks 1 and 6 this season. Now, he's on an active roster for his fourth different NFL team. The Harvard product has made 73 regular season appearances, including 58 with the Tennessee Titans .

Firkser, who has 115 career receptions, has not yet been targeted in the pass game this season. He's seen the majority of his work on special teams, but did log seven offensive snaps combined during his outings for the Jets.

Bates, an undrafted rookie out of Kentucky, was claimed off waivers from the Chicago Bears after roster cutdown day. He played in five games for Gang Green, but appeared to be overwhelmed, especially when in a blocking role.

Sheffield, who has played in 43 career games, joined the Jets this past summer and was signed to the Practice Squad after final cuts were made. His last regular season game action came in Tennessee's 2023 finale.

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Mills, a former Super Bowl champion, has converted from cornerback into safety. He landed on New York's Practice Squad four weeks ago and made his Green & White debut against the Buffalo Bills in Week 6.

The Jets visit the Pittsburgh Steelers for Sunday Night Football on October 20 at 8:20 pm ET.

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