Jets' First-Round Rookie and Veteran Both Active vs. Patriots

Three first-year players are down but veteran kicker Greg Zuerlein returns

Author:
Ralph Ventre
Updated:
Sep 24, 2023 12:01 PM EDT
Original:
Sep 24, 2023

In this story:

The New York Jets are going heavy on edge rushers for their Week 3 divisional battle against the New England Patriots.

First-round draft pick Will McDonald and veteran John Franklin-Myers are both up for Sunday's AFC East showdown at MetLife Stadium. Edge rushers Bryce Huff, Jermaine Johnson, Micheal Clemons and Carl Lawson are also active.

Starting safety Tony Adams (hamstring) and backup offensive lineman Wes Schweitzer (concussion), who were both ruled out on Friday, are two of the Jets' six gameday inactives in Week 3. Cornerback Bryce Hall is also sitting along with a trio of rookies.

Undrafted rookie Jason Brownlee, fifth-round running back Israel Abanikanda and sixth-round linebacker Zaire Barnes are all inactive for the third consecutive game.

Gang Green dressed only five edge players in each of the first two games. With Lawson out in Week 1, McDonald took 13 defensive snaps against the Buffalo Bills. One week later, McDonald was inactive as Lawson made his season debut against the Dallas Cowboys.

Veteran kicker Greg Zuerlein, who missed the Week 2 road game at Dallas due to a groin issue, is back in the lineup on Sunday in East Rutherford.

The Jets, who don't have an emergency third quarterback, are rolling with Zach Wilson at QB1 with Tim Boyle backing him up.

With starting left tackle Duane Brown on IR, the Jets could be in the midst of re-shuffling the offensive line on Sunday. Reports say bookend Mekhi Becton will be flipped to the left side with guard Alijah Vera-Tucker kicking out to right tackle.