The New York Jets activated quarterback Aaron Rodgers from injured reserve Wednesday, even though they have no intention of playing him this season with the team mathematically eliminated from the playoffs.
The transaction will allow Rodgers to practice with the team for the rest of the season despite him tearing his Achilles at the beginning of the season.
However, the decision to add Rodgers back to the active 53-man roster meant the Jets needed to release another player who would otherwise possibly see in-game action.
Initially, that player was fullback Nick Bawden, but New York signed him back to the practice squad after he cleared waivers.
The next man released as a result of the Rodgers activation was practice squad defensive back Kalon Barnes, according to Pro Football Talk.
Jets QB Aaron Rodgers is back on the 53-man roster, even though he won’t be playing again this season. That move ultimately resulted in practice-squad DB Kalon Barnes getting released on Friday. https://t.co/4Vkw3J57vJ
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) December 23, 2023
Barnes was a seventh-round pick by the Carolina Panthers in 2022 and has been with the Panthers, Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings, and Pittsburgh Steelers before he joined the Jets in October.
He’s only seen action in two regular season games during his career – twice on special teams for the Vikings in 2022.
The decision to cut Barnes for a player who won’t even play this season looks curious.
Barnes would have been an emergency depth player for the secondary or special teams rather than an important contributor.
While Rodgers won’t play, his ability to get quality practice time with his teammates is more important than him working out on his own and away from the team on injured reserve.
The hope is that Rodgers will be fully healthy and fully integrated into the offense by the beginning of the 2024 season.
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