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Jets head coach Robert Saleh shared good and bad news about the team’s injuries. As they gear up for their Week 3 matchup against the Patriots on Thursday Night Football, there’s a lot to consider.
After a 24-17 win over the Tennessee Titans in Week 2, the Jets are dealing with some bumps and bruises, and things could get tricky for their defense.
Saleh mentioned three important players: cornerback Michael Carter II, linebacker C.J. Mosley, and cornerback D.J. Reed.
As for Carter, he’s dealing with an ankle injury that could linger for a while, and although the team is hopeful he’ll play against the Patriots, it’s still a long-term concern.
Meanwhile, Reed missed the last game with a knee injury, and Mosley had to leave early with a toe injury.
Their availability for Thursday will likely be decided at game time, as the team plans to monitor them through individual workouts before making the final call.
With three games in 11 days, including Thursday night’s game, Saleh is tweaking the team’s schedule to keep players fresh.
Evidently, the Jets have struggled in recent Thursday night games, getting outscored 101-53 over the last three years.
This season, Saleh is trying new strategies to help his players bounce back quickly, as previous approaches haven’t worked, even the ones he used when he was with the 49ers.
If Mosley can’t play, linebacker Jamien Sherwood is expected to step up. For his part, Saleh expressed confidence in Sherwood’s ability to lead the defense.
Looking back at Sherwood’s recent performance, he stood out against the Titans, leading the team in tackles, which makes the Jets comfortable with him taking over if Mosley isn’t ready.
Saleh said Mosley is “progressing well” and is about 50/50 for Thursday’s game.
When it comes to Reed and Carter, their availability might not be known until game day.
Both are still working through their injuries, and Saleh mentioned they’ll be doing individual workouts to see if they’re ready.
The short week between games doesn’t give them much time to recover, but there’s still hope.
To make matters worse, the Jets got hit hard with another big loss: defensive end Jermaine Johnson is out for the season with a torn Achilles.
Johnson himself confirmed the news on social media after getting an MRI. While the Jets haven’t officially put him on injured reserve yet, they’re already making adjustments.
Rookie Eric Watts, who hasn’t played in an NFL game yet, could step in, and Saleh has faith that Watts, despite being young, will do well with some game experience.
Second-year defensive end Will McDonald IV, who had three sacks last week, will also see more playing time.
On offense, wide receiver Mike Williams could play more Thursday. He went from just nine snaps in Week 1 to 37 snaps in Week 2, and Saleh said Williams is feeling good and ready for more.
Incredibly, Williams made a key 19-yard catch against the Titans that helped set up the game-winning score, so getting him more involved should help the offense.
The Jets’ defense, a core part of the team’s identity, will face a tough test against the Patriots, especially with key players like Mosley and Johnson unavailable or questionable.
Saleh believes in the depth of his squad, but the outcome of Thursday’s game will depend on how well the team adapts to these injuries and the quick turnaround between games.