The Jets have activated defensive end Joseph Ossai from the physically unable to perform (PUP) list.
Ossai (6-4, 263) was placed on the Active/PUP list on July 28. He signed with the Jets in March after playing his first four seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals. During his time with the Bengals from 2022-25, Ossai played in 61 games while racking up 116 total tackles, 44 quarterback hits and 14.5 sacks. He recorded a career-high 5 sacks in each of the last two seasons. In 2025, Ossai set a personal best by playing 616 defensive snaps, and he also contributed 71 snaps on special teams.
A player ends up on the PUP list if he is not able to practice the first day of training camp due to a football related injury. He can come off the list at any point in camp once he is ready to start practicing.
The Jets did not disclose what injury put Ossai on the list, but the team is happy to have him back. He was one of the big free agent signings of the offseason. Ossai is projected to be a starting edge defender across from David Bailey. While Bailey will be the primary pass rusher off the edge, Ossai’s job will be to set the edge and collapse the pocket.
It is very unlikely we will see Ossai in Friday night’s preseason opener, but he could make an appearance at some point in the exhibition season after he gets some practice time under his belt.