It's official: Rookie quarterback Christian Hackenberg is active for the first time this season for the Jets' final game of 2016 against the Buffalo Bills today at MetLife Stadium.
But neither Ryan Fitzpatrick nor Hackenberg will have Brandon Marshall to throw to. Marshall, the veteran WR with hip and shoulder injuries, has been deactivated for the first time this season.
It's been known that Hackenberg would be the No. 2 QB behind Ryan Fitzpatrick since Bryce Petty (shoulder) went on Injured Reserve early in the past week. But the announcement of the Jets' inactives confirms it and should Hackenberg play at any time in this game, he would be making his Green & White debut.
The Bills had announced that backup QB EJ Manuel would be making the start today over season-long starter Tyrod Taylor. The Bills today listed Taylor among their seven deactivations.
The Jets' RB depth chart has also been thinned with both Matt Forte (knee) and Khiry Robinson (leg) going on IR also in the last week. Bilal Powell (knee/illness), listed as questionable for the game, is active and ready to start and make his push toward having the NFL's best yards/carry average among qualifying rushers this season. He enters the game at 5.50 yards/carry, one-hundredth of a yard ahead of No. 2 LeSean McCoy, who's going for the Bills in this game.
Behind Powell are a pair of former practice squad backs: Brandon Wilds, who's played in the last three games, and Brandon Burks, who could make his Jets debut in this game.
Also inactive is CB/KR Nick Marshall (hamstring), leaving the kickoff and punt return duties to rookie WR Jalin Marshall, who had been deactivated the previous four games.
NT Steve McLendon (hamstring) and LB Lorenzo Mauldin (ankle) are both inactive for the fourth straight game and TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins (hamstring).
The Jets' complete inactive list for this game:
■ WR Brandon Marshall
■ CB/KR Nick Marshall
■ LB Randell Johnson
■ LB Lorenzo Mauldin
■ OL Donald Hawkins
■ TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins
■ NT Steve McLendon
The Bills' inactives:
■ QB Tyrod Taylor
■ WR Dezmin Lewis
■ CB Stephon Gilmore
■ T Cordy Glenn
■ TE Logan Thomas
■ TE Gerald Christian
■ DL Adolphus Washington
Head coach Todd Bowles has named Powell and CB Darrelle Revis as his gameday captains.
The Jets are wearing their green jerseys and white pants for the fifth time this season. They're 5-4 in green/white in two seasons under head coach Todd Bowles.
Jeff Triplette is the referee today. It's his 13th Jets game as ref since 1999 and his first since 2013. He also worked the Jets' 2004 opening-day victory over Cincinnati and the late-season home wins over Oakland in '06 and Buffalo in '08.
