NFL Roster Moves: Jets Add Veteran Sterling Shepard, Giants and Saints Elevate Undrafted Talent

The initial 53-man roster is a fragile illusion. By the time the second week of the 2026 NFL season kicks off, the pristine depth charts drawn up in August are already cracking under the weight of high ankle sprains and pulled groins. That reality forces front offices into a frantic September scramble—poaching practice squads, elevating undrafted rookies, and calling veterans back to the facility to keep the machine running.

The New York Jets made the highest-profile depth move of the week, signing wide receiver Sterling Shepard to their practice squad on September 15. Shepard, an 11-year veteran with 4,800 career receiving yards, spent training camp with the Houston Texans before being released in late August. Now, the 33-year-old returns to MetLife Stadium, the building where he spent the first eight years of his career with the New York Giants.[1][5]

General manager Joe Douglas needed the insurance. Before the season opener, the Jets placed backup receiver Tim Patrick on injured reserve with a groin injury. Then, in Week 1, starting slot receiver Omar Cooper Jr. suffered a high ankle sprain, leaving the offense dangerously thin on the perimeter.[1]

Shepard provides immediate, plug-and-play versatility. "Shepard can provide depth for the Jets in any alignment," reported Jets X-Factor, noting that the veteran ran a nearly even split of routes from the slot and out wide last season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That flexibility is critical for a team trying to patch two different holes on the fly.[1]

Across the building, the New York Giants were dealing with their own defensive attrition. On September 17, the Giants signed 23-year-old cornerback Nikko Reed to their 53-man active roster, poaching him directly off the Los Angeles Chargers' practice squad.[2][4]

The transaction was born of necessity. The Giants placed veteran cornerback Paulson Adebo on injured reserve with a knee injury, sidelining him for a minimum of four weeks. With Greg Newsome II and Deonte Banks also appearing on the injury report, defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson needed an immediate injection of healthy boundary talent.[2][4]

Reed, an undrafted free agent out of Oregon, appeared in five games for the Chargers last season before a hamstring injury ended his rookie campaign. Big Blue Interactive described the 5-foot-10, 180-pound defender as an "undersized but competitive slot/nickel corner with good speed and press technique" who brings immediate special-teams value to a razor-thin secondary.[2]

Down in the NFC South, the New Orleans Saints rewarded one of their own undrafted rookies. On September 18, the Saints signed running back CJ Donaldson from their practice squad to the permanent 53-man active roster.[3][6]

AI

Donaldson, a 230-pound back out of Ohio State, isn't being brought up to steal traditional tailback carries from Alvin Kamara or Travis Etienne. Instead, the Saints are deploying the bruising rookie in a hybrid fullback role, utilizing him as a lead blocker and short-yardage specialist.[3][6]

"It's showing what the Saints are interested in doing on offense in a way they haven't always pursued in the past," noted Heavy.com, highlighting the front office's desire to maximize Donaldson's unique mixture of speed and strength in a compact frame.[3]

Donaldson takes the active roster spot vacated by injured long snapper Zach Wood. For an undrafted rookie who cleared waivers just weeks ago, it is a permanent elevation that secures his immediate future in the league.[3]

These mid-September transactions rarely make the prime-time highlight reels, but they are the structural reinforcements that keep a season afloat. When the December chill sets in and the playoff race tightens, the depth pieces signed this week will be the ones taking the critical snaps.