Jets’ secondary depth stretched to limit after two more injuries
PITTSBURGH — The Jets’ secondary depth got stretche🍸d to the limit on Sunday night.
They entered the game down three starters in the secondary and then lost another starter and a 𝄹backup during the game.
Cornerback D.J. Reed was inactiܫve for the game with a groin injury.
The Jets had listed him as questionable for the game. Reed injured the groin in last Monda🐭y’s loss to the Bills. Michael Carter II had been declared out on Friday with a back injury.
Sa♓fety Chuck Clark went on injured reserve after suffering a high-ankle sprain in the Bills game.
During th🦩e game, the Jets lost safety 𒆙Tony Adams to a hamstring injury and backup safety Ashtyn Davis to a concussion.
That left Sauce Ga🔴rdner as the only Jets starting defensive back left in the game. During the second half, the Jets had Kendall Sheffield, a practice squad elevation, playing meaningful minutes.
Brandin Echols started in place of Reed. Isaiah Oliver started at nickel corner in place of Carter, but had to move to safety after Ad✅ams and Davis were both inj🌳ured.
Jalen Mills, who also was elevated from the practi🦩ce squad, ꦦwas a surprise starter at safety in place of Clark.
Adams l🍷eft the game✃ at halftime and then Davis left the game to be evaluated for a concussion in the third quarter and did not return.
The Jets lost two offensive linemen during the game, too. Starting right guard Alijah Vera-Tucker left the game in the first half with an ankle injury and did not return. His replacement Xavier Newman suffered a scary looking injury in the third quarter.
He was blocked by Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen after an Aaron Rodgers interception and hit the ground hard. He was placed on a backboard and ca🎀rted off the field.
Ulbrich said Newman went to a local hospital and the tests came back negative and Newman would be able to fly home w💦ith the Jets.
“Thank 👍the lord 🐓the tests came back negative,” Ulbrich said. “He’s traveling back with the team. That’s a huge relief.”
There has been speculation ꦜthat WR Mike Williams might be traded after the team acquired Davante Adams.
There is a belief around the NFL that Williams might wind up getting traded to the Steelers but the Jets weꦜre not going t𝐆o trade him before Sunday’s game.
Williams came up with one huge catch in🐟 the game on a fourth down.
The other inactives besides Reed and Carter were: OT Carter Warren, OT Max Mitchell, RB Israel Abanikanda, DE Braiden M๊cGregor and WR Malachi Corley.