The New York Jets have released safety Jaylen Key from their practice squad to add a veteran free agent.
In a corresponding move to their release of Key, the Jets signed safety Jalen Mills to their practice squad. Mills is an eight-year NFL veteran who has started 83 regular-season and four playoff games while playing for the Philadelphia Eagles and New England Patriots.
From LSU, Mills was a seventh-round choice in the 2016 NFL Draft. From Alabama, Key also was a seventh-round choice as the final player picked in the draft on April 27.
As the 257th selection, Key was 2024’s Mr. Irrelevant, the nickname given annually to the final player picked in the draft. That made Key the guest of honor at Irrelevant Week in Newport Beach, California, in June.
Key did not survive the cut when New York reduced its preseason roster to the regular-season limit on Aug. 27. But the Jets re-signed him for their practice squad.
Key did not play in New York’s first three games this season.
Key played for Alabama in the 2023 season after spending five seasons at UAB.
One other defensive back with Alabama football roots was released in the NFL on Wednesday, with the Chicago Bears releasing cornerback Ro Torrence from their practice squad. A standout at Bessemer City High School, Torrence played one season at Auburn before completing his college career with two seasons at Arizona State.
Torrence entered the NFL as an undrafted rookie with the Seattle Seahawks before joining the Bears.
