A pair of Western Kentucky alumni found themselves at the center of New York Jets roster turbulence this week, as the team's final 53-man cuts and last-minute acquisitions left both Bailey Zappe and Jordan Meredith in uncertain territory heading into the 2026 season.
Zappe's Grip on the Practice Squad Is Slipping
Bailey Zappe survived initial cutdown day — but just barely. The Jets released him as part of their roster reduction before re-signing him to the practice squad, where he sits as the team's third quarterback behind Geno Smith and Cade Klunbik. That thin margin of safety may not hold.
The Jets' next move signaled dissatisfaction with their QB depth: the team worked out two quarterbacks at their facility, including former second-round pick Will Levis. When a franchise is kicking tires on a name like Levis, it's a direct message to whoever currently occupies that emergency depth role. Zappe, who spent the preseason fighting to even make the practice squad, now faces the prospect of being displaced before he sees a regular-season snap.
The Jets currently carry just two quarterbacks on their active roster, meaning Zappe's practice squad spot is the only buffer between him and unemployment. If Levis — or anyone else who worked out — signs, Zappe is almost certainly the odd man out.
Meredith Arrives, but His Roster Spot Is Already Complicated
Meanwhile, Jordan Meredith came to New York via trade from the Las Vegas Raiders, where he played 45 games across his career. The deal was reported Sunday afternoon, but the timing created an immediate procedural wrinkle: when the Jets released their initial 53-man roster, Meredith's name wasn't on it. The team was still working through the logistics of officially integrating him following the trade.
Whether Meredith lands on the active 53 or is stashed on the practice squad remains to be sorted. What is clear is that the Jets saw enough value in the Western Kentucky product to give up assets for him mid-cutdown weekend — a chaotic moment to execute any trade, let alone one involving an offensive lineman who needs to learn a new system.
The Hilltopper Footnote
Neither Zappe nor Meredith figures to be a household name in New York anytime soon. But both represent the pipeline that WKU has quietly built into the NFL — a program that continues to produce players capable of carving out roster spots at the highest level, even if those spots require constant fighting to keep.
For Zappe especially, this week is a gut check. He's been in this position before — released, re-signed, waiting — and has managed to stay employed in the NFL longer than most would have predicted. Whether he survives the Jets' ongoing quarterback evaluation is the most pressing question a Hilltopper fan will be watching as Week 1 approaches.
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