A 6-foot-7 pass-catching tight end whose promising start with the Colts was derailed by injuries, Jelani Woods is now looking to reestablish himself with the Jets.
Jelani Woods flashed as a rookie big-target tight end in Indianapolis before back-to-back injury-shortened seasons stalled his career. Claimed off waivers by the Jets in August 2025, he is working to carve out a role again after a lost stretch of football.
Path to the league
Woods began his college career at Oklahoma State before transferring to Virginia, where he became a first-team All-ACC pick in 2021 after catching 44 passes for 598 yards and eight touchdowns. The Indianapolis Colts drafted the 6-foot-7, 253-pound Woods in the third round, 73rd overall, of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Career highlights
Woods showed real promise as a rookie in 2022, catching 25 passes for 312 yards and three touchdowns as a big-bodied receiving threat for the Colts. Injuries then derailed his career arc: a hamstring injury cost him the entire 2023 season, and turf toe wiped out his 2024 season as well.
2025 season recap
After three injury-hampered seasons in Indianapolis, Woods was waived by the Colts and claimed by the Jets on August 27, 2025. His return to the field was limited, appearing in just four games and finishing with one catch for four yards as he worked his way back from an extended layoff.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Jelani Woods
- Pro Football Reference: Jelani Woods
Statistics
2025 season and career2025 Season · Receiving
4 games played▶Receiving · career
| Year | Team | GP | REC | YDS | AVG | TD | LNG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | jets | 4 | 1 | 4 | 4.0 | 0 | 4 |
| 2022 | colts | 15 | 25 | 312 | 12.5 | 3 | 36 |
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Tight End
- Group
- offense
- College
- Virginia
- Hometown
- Ellenwood, GA, USA
- Age
- 27
- Status
- active
