Where's Will McDonald? First-Round Rookie Seeing Minimal Reps

Top 15 draft pick has lowest snap count amongst Jets' edge rushers

Maybe they are bringing him along slowly, only to unleash the rookie pass rusher during the season's stretch run?

Through four weeks, first-round edge rusher Will McDonald has yet to receive an ample opportunity to flaunt his ability on the field for the New York Jets. 

The 24-year-old rookie, who was a healthy gameday inactive in Week 2, has not seen more than 13 defensive snaps in any of his first three regular season appearances. McDonald has accounted for one tackle over the course of 36 total plays. 

"Just not a ton of opportunities. So, as he gets more and more comfortable in our scheme and what we’re doing, we just have to get him more involved," said defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich on Thursday in Florham Park.

Are these the early-season results that Jets' brass had in mind when it used the No. 15 overall draft pick on McDonald this past April? 

"Like every young player, every rookie that comes in, he has got to learn all of the nuances and all the details within the defense. He is growing and getting better," said defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich prior to the Week 3 contest against New England.

Ulbrich's comments suggest that McDonald has the will and ability to succeed but initially lacked an understanding of the Jets' defensive operations.

"There are some major improvements that you are starting to see in his game, all his intangibles, his freakiness athletically, his speed, his bend, all that stuff. It’s starting to come to life as he starts to learn our defense," said Ulbrich.

There is a bit of a log jam at the position with the Jets carrying six edge rushers on their 53-man roster. All six were active for each of the past two games with John Franklin-Myers and Jermaine Johnson handling the bulk of the workload.

McDonald recorded the fewest snaps of the six active edge players in both games, slightly trailing veteran Carl Lawson in snap count.

Meanwhile, two defensive players who were drafted shortly after McDonald have been key contributors on their respective teams. 

Cornerback Christian Gonzalez, the No. 17 overall selection, was a Week 1 starter for the New England Patriots and was an early Defensive Rookie of the Yera candidate prior to his Week 4 injury. Taken one pick after Gonzalez, Iowa linebacker Jack Campbell is playing 46 percent of defensive snaps for the Detroit Lions.

Rookie defensive end Luke Van Ness, who was taken with the No. 13 selection that the Jets sent to Green Bay as part of the Aaron Rodgers trade, has been part of the Packers' defensive alignment 35 percent of the time through his first four games.

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

Back in the spring, head coach Robert Saleh hinted that McDonald was on track to receive at least 20 reps per game.

"There’s things from a developmental standpoint, all rookies go through it, with regards to a little bit more size, a little bit more power. Developing the ability to run through tackles is always going to be the biggest thing for a defensive lineman, but I love where he’s at right now," said Saleh during the final week of OTAs. "He’s got a long way to go, but you guys know as we rotate, if they dress on gameday, they’re going to play at least 20. He’ll be part of the rotation."

Thus far, he's the least-deployed member of the edge rusher rotation. A change, however, could be in the making. 

"He’s starting to get more comfortable, starting to play faster, starting to really understand the role he has on our defense," said Ulbrich as the defense preps for a Week 5 battle against Russell Wilson and the Broncos. "With that, with every game, he’s going to get a little bit more burn. I’m excited to see him out there a little bit more."

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