On Thursday, December 18, the New York Jets signed quarterback Hendon Hooker to the practice squad.
24 hours later, head coach Aaron Glenn bluntly explained why they added an arm to the bullpen ahead of the Week 16 New Orleans Saints game.
“Just in case,” Glenn quickly responded with his eyebrows raised when asked what the thought process was behind bringing Hooker in.
“We always want to make sure that we are prepared. Same thing when we brought Adrian [Martinez] in last week. If both quarterbacks didn’t have a chance of actually making it, we still got somebody that we have in the hole. Plus, he is a good player. I had him in Detroit, and if you watch him, look at his stats, you look at the way he throws the ball — he is a talent. The thing that we want to do is try to make sure that we develop that talent. Anytime that we can add good players to our team, we are going to do that.”
NFL Stands For: Not for Long
Glenn’s blunt assessment doesn’t bode well for Hooker’s long-term future with the Jets. He was brought in as a break-the-glass QB2 for the Saints game if Tyrod Taylor or Justin Fields aren’t available for the game.
Glenn referenced what took place with Martinez last week.
The Jets signed Martinez to their practice squad. With Taylor and Fields unavailable, Martinez was elevated from the practice squad to serve as the QB2 to Brady Cook in Week 15. After the game, Martinez reverted to the P-Squad. A few hours later, he got cut by the Jets.
It’s a cold world.
Martinez had spent the previous year and a half with the Jets until he was dumped ahead of final roster cuts in August. The talented passer ended up joining the San Francisco 49ers practice squad.
Gang Green needed him just for a game, so Martinez left the 49ers’ P-Squad, played the game, got cut, and then returned to San Francisco.
It sounds like Hooker could meet a similar fate.
Jets Likely Won’t Need the Hooker Emergency QB Plan
Glenn said if one of the two veteran quarterbacks wasn’t healthy enough for the Jets, they could use Hooker as the QB2.
That doesn’t seem like it’ll be necessary.
On the Jets’ final injury report on Friday, December 19, there was a positive update.
Fields and Taylor were listed as limited participants through the first two days of practice this week. On Friday, Fields remained a limited participant while Taylor improved to a full participant.
ESPN’s Rich Cimini said that it is a strong indicator that Taylor “will be QB2 on Sunday.”
Fields, on the other hand, “told reporters he doesn’t think he can play this week,” Cimini revealed on social media.
The Jets would be best served holding onto Hooker. It appears the primary reason he was brought in is because of roster gymnastics.
However, it would behoove the green and white to develop him on the practice squad. Neither Taylor nor Fields is long for New York, so they should start evaluating other players who could be options at QB for the 90-man roster in 2026.
Aaron Glenn Gives Brutally Honest Reason Jets Signed QB Hendon Hooker