The New York Jets could have a new return specialist before long.

Lucky Whitehead, who was released after a pre-season foot fracture, has re-signed on the practice squad, a source confirmed. The Jets had been keeping tabs on Whitehead -- they visited with him recently to check on the progress of his surgically repaired foot -- so this comes as no surprise.

The Jets are desperate for stability at punt returner and kickoff returner. The most recent player to step up was the diminutive JoJo Natson, a 5-foot-7, 153-pounder who failed to provide a spark in a 15-10 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Jeremy Kerley still has three games remaining on his suspension, creating a void at punt returner. They've used four different players (Kerley, Natson, Elijah McGuire and Kalif Raymond), and have yet to break a return longer than 25 yards. They've used the same four as kickoff returners, and the results have been similarly disappointing.

The Jets claimed Whitehead on waivers from the Dallas Cowboys, who released him after a bizarre chain of events stemming from a case of mistaken identity. He had a chance to make the Jets' roster in the preseason, but the foot injury led to his ouster.