New Injury Update Forces Jets to Shift Plans Before Preseason Game

Mason Taylor College Career and Production

Son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Jason Taylor and nephew of Hall of Famer Zach Thomas, Taylor entered the NFL with a solid resume from LSU. Across three seasons in Baton Rouge, he developed into a reliable intermediate and red-zone target for the Tigers.

This steady progression in both volume and efficiency culminated in a junior year that ranked Taylor among the SEC’s most productive tight ends, so much so that the Jets were confident enough to make him the third tight end off the board in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Projected Role and New York Jets Depth Chart

Coming into camp, Taylor was widely viewed as the frontrunner to start alongside veteran Jeremy Ruckert in Glenn’s offense.

At the time of writing, ESPN lists Taylor as the primary tight end in three wide receiver sets, with Ruckert as the backup and Smartt as the third option.

High-ankle sprains often require several weeks of recovery, though Glenn expressed confidence Taylor’s progress would not be derailed by missing camp reps.

"He’s a damn good player. I think he’s going to be just fine," Glenn said, emphasizing Taylor’s pedigree and work ethic.

However, given that Taylor is now likely to miss the opener against Green Bay, it could not only delay his debut but also cede valuable reps to Ruckert and Smartt.

Any extended absence could easily shift momentum in the tight end battle.