Jets designate safety VJ Payne to return, sign wide receiver Joseph Manjack IV
The New York Jets designated safety VJ Payne to return to practice and signed wide receiver Joseph Manjack IV to the practice squad on Nov. 4, 2026, the team announced. The moves were listed on the Jets’ official transaction report published that day. Payne missed the preseason and started the season on injured reserve after sustaining an injury during training camp.
Payne, listed at 6-foot-3 and 206 pounds, was selected by the Jets in the seventh round, No. 228 overall, of the 2026 NFL Draft out of Kansas State. At Kansas State, Payne appeared in 52 games, tied for 11th in school history, and made 42 starts. In 2025 he had 59 tackles, three tackles for loss, one interception, four passes defensed and two forced fumbles. He earned All-Big 12 honorable mention for his 2025 performance.
Manjack, listed at 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds, previously signed with the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent in May and played in all three preseason games for that club. He made three receptions for 40 yards in the preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons. His collegiate career began at USC in 2021, continued at Houston from 2022-24 and finished at TCU in 2025. At Houston he led the team in receiving touchdowns (three), ranked second in receiving yards (351) and third in receptions (22), and last season at TCU he had 44 receptions for 579 yards in 11 games.
Designating Payne to return to practice allows the Jets to evaluate the seventh-round pick in team sessions after his training-camp injury and missed preseason. Adding Manjack to the practice squad gives the Jets additional depth at receiver with a player who has preseason experience and production across multiple college programs. The team did not disclose any additional roster moves in the announcement published Nov. 4, 2026.
NFL Sports Blog Take
Designating VJ Payne to return to practice is a procedural move that will permit the Jets to monitor his recovery and assess his readiness in team drills before any potential activation. Payne’s extensive game experience at Kansas State and his 2025 production make a close look prudent for a seventh-round pick returning from injury. Joseph Manjack IV’s preseason snaps with Denver and his production at multiple colleges give the Jets a developmental option at receiver on the practice squad. Both moves add evaluative options for the team as it manages depth and potential contributors during the season.