The New York Jets officially placed rookie left tackle Olu Fashanu onto Injured Reserve on Tuesday and filled the vacant roster spot by signing an undrafted rookie off the practice squad in a move that caught the attention of starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
The Jets promoted safety Jarius Monroe, who joined the team on an UDFA contract following the 2024 NFL Draft and has spent the first 16 weeks of the season on the practice squad. New York also added kicker Greg Joseph on a practice squad contract on Tuesday.
Concluding his virtual press conference on Christmas Eve, Rodgers chose to recognize Monroe for the well-deserved opportunity.
"I want to finish with a specific shoutout for a guy who does it right all the time, not just some of the time, all the time, and that's Jarius Monroe who just got elevated to the active roster. So, shoutout to Jarius, he's a phenomenal young player," said Rodgers, a four-time NFL MVP.
Monroe was active in Week 16 against the Los Angeles Rams as a practice squad call-up. It was the third gameday elevation of rookie year, which is the maximum allowed, meaning the Jets were required to sign him to the active roster if they wished to use him in a game again this season.
"Reminds me a lot of Anthony Levine, who I played with for a long time, who ended up being a team captain in Baltimore and played double digit years in the League," said Rodgers.
The 24-year-old Monroe has seen 45 snaps (17 defense, 28 special teams) as a Jet thus far, and he'll likely be active when New York visits the Buffalo Bills on December 29.
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"He does it right all the time. I wish this would've happened a long time ago, but he gets his credit in-season. He's a great player, and really happy for him," said Rodgers.
Monroe earned back-to-back All-American Athletic Conference First Team selections in his two seasons at Tulane after spending three seasons at Nicholls State.
© Kevin R. Wexler
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