The New York Jets have been one of the worst teams in the league all season and it seems like they’re going to be closer to landing the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft than they will be to finishing the season at .500 or above.
At the trade deadline, the Jets opted to shock the entire NFL world by making a few huge trades. After trading cornerback Michael Carter II earlier in the month of October, the Jets opted to trade Sauce Gardner to the Indianapolis Colts and Quinnen Williams to the Dallas Cowboys at the deadline.
The Jets are clearly leaning harder into their rebuild than anybody seemed to believe they would. These two big trades likely set the team back an additional year or two, but it sets their future up quite a bit as they added a slew of draft picks. But the Jets need to fill the massive voids left in their lineup by these two star defenders.
Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox recently suggested rookie cornerback Azareye’h Thomas could be the Jets’ biggest breakout player down the final stretch of this season.
“The New York Jets are planning for their future, as evidenced by their deadline trades of Quinnen Williams and Sauce Gardner. With the latter now with the Colts, New York needs someone new to become a difference-maker in the secondary,” Knox wrote. “Azareye’h Thomas has a chance to be that guy. The rookie out of Florida State has started each of the Jets’ past two games and logged a pass deflection in three straight games.”
Thomas didn’t seem like he was going to get a lot of playing time this season as the Jets had Gardner, Brandon Stephens, Carter, and swung a trade for Jarvis Brownlee. But after trading Carter and Gardner, Thomas is being trusted in a much bigger role.
Thomas has all the traits of a potential star. He’s quick and athletic with solid coverage skills. He’s likely going to be trusted in a starting role down the stretch. The Jets should quickly be able to find out if he’s going to stick in the starting lineup long term. From what we’ve seen, Thomas has star written all over him.
Cameron Johnston’s Unexpected Exit: Bills Release Veteran Punter After Injury Setback
In a surprising move on Wednesday, the Buffalo Bills announced they had released punter Cameron Johnston from their injured reserve list, officially ending his brief tenure with the team. The decision came after Johnston, 33, was sidelined due to a knee injury in Week 4, leaving the team to reassess their punting situation moving forward.
Johnston’s journey to Buffalo has been far from conventional. Originally signed by the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent out of Ohio State in 2017, Johnston played a pivotal role in special teams, but his road to consistency in the NFL has been full of twists and turns. After spending time with the Eagles, he had a brief stint with the Houston Texans in 2021, followed by a notable three-year, $9 million contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers in March 2024. However, after being cut from Pittsburgh’s training camp this year, Johnston found a new home with the Bills in September 2025.
While with Buffalo, Johnston made a solid impact over his three games, averaging 44.0 yards per punt on seven attempts and placing two inside the 20-yard line. Despite these contributions, the injury to his knee derailed his ability to stay healthy and continue his momentum.
What’s Next for Johnston?
Johnston’s release from the Bills raises questions about his future in the NFL. At 33, the veteran punter has proven his worth on multiple occasions, but his injury history, especially in his knee, may have limited his appeal to other teams. His past performances, including his tenure with the Eagles and Steelers, show that he has the potential to contribute to a playoff-caliber special teams unit, but his availability and health will be major factors in any future contracts.
It’s unclear whether Johnston will continue his career elsewhere, but teams in need of an experienced punter will certainly be keeping an eye on his recovery. If healthy, he remains a viable option for teams seeking a steady leg in the postseason stretch.
For now, Johnston’s release marks the end of his stint with Buffalo, but given his solid track record, this may not be the last we’ve seen of the talented punter in the NFL.