Final Injury Report: Jets Down Two Cornerbacks Heading to Denver

Saleh rules starter and backup out for Sunday's road battle vs. Broncos

The New York Jets already knew they'd be without second-string cornerback Brandin Echols in Week 5 and they received more bad injury news on Friday. 

Veteran starter D.J. Reed remains in concussion protocol after experiencing symptoms earlier this week. Although the Jets had been cautiously optimistic, Reed will not clear the required five-phase process in time for the October 8 road game against the Denver Broncos. 

"DJ, he has not passed his protocol, so he will be out," said Saleh.

It will be the first missed start for Reed since he signed with the Jets as a free agent in 2022. The highly-graded cornerback has started 21 consecutive games opposite Sauce Gardner. 

"DJ is a special football player," said Saleh. "He alleviates some of the pressure of trying to be perfect with regards to match-up."

Meanwhile, Echols had been ruled out for Sunday's intra-conference matchup against Denver due to a hamstring injury that he suffered in the setback to Kansas City.

Neither Reed nor Echols practiced during the week. 

"We'll see. We have a plan and we'll wait until Sunday," said Saleh on being down two cornerbacks for the important road test. "We have confidence in all the DBs, whether it's moving people around or however we have to shuffle it. We've got a lot of guys who have played a lot of fooball in this league and have played at a very high level, so we'll be fine."

While Bryce Hall seems likely to factor into the equation, starting free safety Tony Adams may have a role to play in compensating for the absences, too.

In a positive development, Adams and backup offensive guard Wes Schweitzer were full participants in practice each of the last two days. Both players have missed the past two games due to injury, but neither carries a designation heading into the weekend and are ready to return.

Dealing with an ankle injury, Jets' linebacker Sam Eguavoen was upgraded to limited on Friday and is listed as questionable for Sunday. Backup offensive tackle Billy Turner was a new addition to the official injury report on Friday and his official gameday availability is questionable.

"You will see Billy Turner on the injury report, I am not worried about him, he is just dealing with a toe," said Saleh.

As for the Broncos, only linebacker Baron Browning has been ruled out. Running back Javonte Williams, whose injury status progressively improved each day of the week, is questionable despite practicing fully on Friday.

Denver is reportedly in the process of trading high-priced defensive end Randy Gregory, who was held out of practice for the third consecutive day.

Sunday's game between the Jets and the Broncos will kick off at 4:25 pm ET on CBS. Andrew Catalon (play-by-play), Matt Ryan (analyst) and Tiki Barber (analyst) will be on the call in the TV booth. The Jets opened as 2.5-point underdogs on the betting line according to SI Sportsbook.

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Jets at Broncos Injury Report

FRIDAY  
Jets  
CB Brandin Echols (hamstring) — DNP 
(Game: OUT) 

CB DJ Reed (concussion) — DNP 
(Game: OUT) 

OT Billy Turner (toe) — DNP 
(Game: Questionable) 

LB Sam Eguavoen (ankle) — LP 
(Game: Questionable) 

S Jarrick Bernard-Converse (foot) — FP 
(Game: Questionable) 

OT Carter Warren (knee) — FP 
(Game: Questionable)

OL Wes Schweitzer (concussion) — FP 
(Game: – ) 

S Tony Adams (hamstring) — FP 
(Game: – ) 

LT Mekhi Becton (knee) — FP 
(Game: – )

Broncos  
LB Baron Browning (knee) — LP 
(Game: OUT) 

C Lloyd Cushenberry (quad) — LP
(Game: Questionable) 

DT Mike Purcell (ribs) — LP  
(Game: Questionable) 

RB Javonte Williams (quad) — FP 
(Game: Questionable) 

LB Frank Clark (hip) — FP 
(Game: – ) 

S Justin Simmons (hip) — FP 
(Game: – ) 

WR Jerry Jeudy (knee) — FP 
(Game: – ) 

LB Josey Jewell (hip) — FP 
(Game: – ) 

THURSDAY
Jets
CB Brandin Echols (hamstring) — DNP
CB DJ Reed (concussion) — DNP
LB Sam Eguavoen (ankle) — DNP
S Jarrick Bernard-Converse (foot) — LP
OT Carter Warren (knee) — LP
OL Wes Schweitzer (concussion) — FP
S Tony Adams (hamstring) — FP
LT Mekhi Becton (knee) — FP

Broncos
RB Javonte Williams (quad) — LP
LB Baron Browning (knee) — LP
LB Frank Clark (hip) — LP
C Lloyd Cushenberry (quad) — LP
DT Mike Purcell (ribs) — LP
S Justin Simmons (hip) — LP
WR Jerry Jeudy (knee) — FP
LB Josey Jewell (hip) — FP 

WEDNESDAY
Jets
CB Brandin Echols (hamstring) — DNP
CB DJ Reed (concussion) — DNP
LB Sam Eguavoen (ankle) — DNP
S Tony Adams (hamstring) — LP
LT Mekhi Becton (knee) — LP
S Jarrick Bernard-Converse (foot) — LP
OL Wes Schweitzer (concussion) — LP
OT Carter Warren (knee) — LP

Broncos
RB Javonte Williams (quad) — DNP
LB Baron Browning (knee) — LP
LB Frank Clark (hip) — LP
C Lloyd Cushenberry (quad) — LP
WR Jerry Jeudy (knee) — LP
LB Josey Jewell (hip) — LP
DT Mike Purcell (ribs) — LP
S Justin Simmons (hip) — LP
S P.J. Locke (toe) — FP

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