Jets Elevate Sterling Shepard, Jaden Keller to Active Roster Ahead of Chicago Game
The New York Jets elevated wide receiver Sterling Shepard and linebacker Jaden Keller to the active roster on Oct. 3, 2026, the team announced. The moves came ahead of the Jets’ Week 4 interconference game in Chicago. The team listed the moves on its transactions page.
Shepard, listed at 5-foot-10 and 194 pounds, had been on the Jets’ practice squad before making his debut last week against the Detroit Lions. In that fourth-quarter comeback, Shepard converted the equalizing two-point attempt. He spent time with the Houston Texans during the summer and joined the Jets’ practice squad in mid-September.
Last season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Shepard appeared in 13 games and totaled 39 receptions for 371 yards and one touchdown. His career spans 11 NFL seasons, including eight with the New York Giants (2016-23) and two with the Buccaneers (2024-25). The team included his career totals in the announcement: 444 receptions for 4,803 yards and 25 touchdowns.
Keller, listed at 6-foot-3 and 235 pounds, signed with the Jets in May after receiving a rookie minicamp invite. He had 10 total tackles (five solo) and a pass deflection in the preseason. The Jets added him to the practice squad on Aug. 31, released him on Sept. 15 and re-signed him a week later. Keller played collegiately at Virginia Tech, appearing in 52 games and totaling 181 tackles, 1.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
NFL Sports Blog Take
Elevating Shepard gives the Jets an experienced option in the passing game who has recent in-game familiarity with the offense and a proven track record in critical situations, as shown by his two-point conversion in last week’s comeback. Keller’s preseason production and collegiate tackling totals suggest he will provide depth at linebacker and could contribute on special teams. Both moves follow a common roster pattern of promoting practice-squad players for immediate game-day needs while preserving roster flexibility on an interconference trip to Chicago.