Previously-Overlooked Jets Linebacker Motivated by 'Feeding My Family'

New York Jets linebacker Jamien Sherwood, a 2021 Day 3 draft pick, is making the most of his opportunity at training camp.

Oct 15, 2023; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Jets linebacker Jamien Sherwood (44) celebrates after the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at MetLife Stadium. / Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Jamien Sherwood entered Year 3 with the New York Jets as a candidate for the team's third linebacker spot. One year later, there's no longer a question concerning the converted safety's status.

Sherwood, a 2021 fifth-round draft pick, played in all 17 games for the Jets in 2023, making three starts when the defense came out in a three-linebacker look. He was essential to the special teams, logging 87 percent of that unit's snaps. The Auburn product accounted for a career-high 46 tackles, 3.0 tackles-for-loss, one forced fumble and one pass breakup.

All-Pro linebacker CJ Mosley, who joined the Jets in 2019, has seen his position mate's growth first-hand, especially during the early parts of training camp.

"Throughout the course of camp, and, his career in the NFL, he's just been getting better and better every single year," said Mosley. He's a very smart linebacker. He's good at reading plays and getting downhill on the run. I feel like this offseason he has done a great job of just getting his body physically ready, just to be a linebacker since he made the transition from safety."

The next step for Sherwood is to force his way into the defensive formation on a more frequent basis, and thus far this summer, he's use training camp reps to provide even more evidence that he belongs.

The 24-year-old Sherwood made for defensive highlights during Monday's practice, intercepting a pass from four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers off a deflection.

"It was fun," said Sherwood at the podium on Monday afternoon. "Aaron Rodgers, great quarterback, Hall of Fame quarterback. When I get my opportunity to do something like that, it's special to me. Obviously, it's special to my teammates and coaches, just to see me going out there playing hard against someone of that caliber. So again, it feels great."

some @JamienSherwood juice for the timeline 🙌 pic.twitter.com/A5Ue4ksXbD

— New York Jets (@nyjets) August 5, 2024

Sherwood has not missed a game in the past two seasons, bringing great availability as a core special teamer and understudy linebacker behind top-tier starters Quincy Williams and Mosley. The versatile defender revealed his motivation for showing up everyday.

"Just like every man, it's a grind, it's about consistency. For me, it's about feeding my family. Whatever opportunity I get, I just got to go in with that mindset of I'm doing this to take care of my family," said Sherwood.

After tearing his Achilles in 2021, Sherwood fought his way back within less than one year's time. According to head coach Robert Saleh, the determined defender has consistently "increased his weight, his IQ, his speed, his strength, his mindset."

Despite a tumultuous start to his Jets tenure, Sherwood looks like he's on the way to a second contract with the team that drafted him.