The New York Jets added some depth to their roster in the form of one of their starters from last season.

The team announced the signing of former Jets' starter Connor McGovern, bringing back the veteran who was lost to injury seven games into the 2023 season. In order to make room for McGovern, the Jets released running back Xazavian Valladay from their practice squad.

The 31-year-old McGovern started 48 of 50 games for the Jets from 2020 through 2022. After re-signing to a one-year contract, he was the Week 1 starter at center in 2023 until suffering a left injury against the New York Giants in late October.

Originally a fifth-round pick of the Broncos in 2017 out of Missouri, he played three seasons in Denver before joining the Jets in 2020. McGovern took 3,055 offensive snaps with the Jets from 2020-22, the most on the team in that span.

While the Jets are set for the time being at center with 2023 second-round pick Joe Tippmann, they are lacking depth at the position. The Jets had a need along the interior of their offensive line after putting backup center Wes Schweitzer on injured reserve late last week.

McGovern is a fantastic depth piece and a veteran presence who knows the coaches and the team. He will be a good mentor to Tippmann after helping him learn the ropes his rookie season. Rodgers obviously trusts McGovern after he was slated to be his starting center last year before his Achilles injury.

Valladay was in his second season as a Jets' practice squad player. He took 71 offensive snaps this preseason and 30 on special teams, finishing with 14 carries for 28 yards and 6 receptions for 62 yards. He originally signed with the Texans as an undrafted free agent out of Arizona State in 2023 before a stint with the Steelers. He spent last season on the Jets’ practice squad. He was active for the 2023 season finale but did not see an offensive snap.

Earlier in the day, the jets have signed linebacker Jackson Sirmon to the practice squad.

Sirmon signed as an undrafted free agent out of Cal in May and took 78 snaps in the preseason. He played in 51 games (34 starts) over his six college seasons – four at Washington and two at Cal. He was named first-team All-Pac 12 in 2022 as he led the team with 104 tackles to go along with career-highs in tackles for loss (6), sacks (3.5) and pass defenses (4). Sirmon, a team captain in '23, totaled 49 tackles, 3 TFL, 1 sack and 2 PD before sustaining a season-ending injury in October.