New York Jets stock up on defensive depth
Hours after adhering to the NFL’s mandated cutdown to 53 men on their respective rosters, the New York Jets added three off of the NFL’s waiver wire.
Defense took center stage as Gang Green added edge rusher Tim Ward (Kansas City), linebacker Quincy Williams (Jacksonville), and safety Sheldrick Redwine (Cleveland). Williams is the older brother of returning defensive lineman Quinnen Williams.
Jets newly claimed DE Tim Ward with a game clinching sack
Welcome to the Jets! pic.twitter.com/IsWOZkRr4l
— NYJ Matt (@NYJ_Matt) September 1, 2021
Ward is part of the Jets’ continuing efforts to bolster their pass rush after losing high-profile acquisition Carl Lawson for the whole season. He was claimed as an undrafted free agent by the Chiefs in 2019 (missing his rookie season with a torn ACL) after picking up 14 sacks over four seasons at Old Dominion.
The lineman appeared in a single regular season game, registering a sack in last year’s season finale against the Los Angeles Chargers. Ward earned three sacks this preseason, tied for second with Philadelphia’s T.Y. McGill for second-most amongst all summer defenders, including two in Kansas City’s opening victory over San Francisco.
This preseason, Tim Ward posted a 91.1 PFF pass-rush grade in true pass set situations (unhindered 1-on-1 battles)
3rd-best out of 78 qualified edge rushers#Jets
— Michael Nania (@Michael_Nania) September 1, 2021
Meanwhile, the elder Williams comes by after two seasons with the Jaguars. Jacksonville chose him in the third round (98th overall) out of Murray State in the 2019 draft, 95 picks after Quinnen was drafted third overall by Gang Green.
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Quincy went on to start eight games in his rookie season, tallying 48 tackles. Injuries limited him to only seven games, his best being a seven-tackle showing with one pass breakup in an October loss to the Chargers.
The two Williams brothers squared off in an October 2019 matchup in Jacksonville. Quincy was inactive for the game, but Quinnen had three tackles and a half-sack in what became a 29-15 Jaguars victory.
“Him being the firstborn, I looked up to everything he did,” Quinnen said of Quincy in a 2019 profile by Dave Caldwell of The New York Times. “He made the best of the opportunity.”
If Quinnen’s older brother is going to stick around, improving his tackling is a must.
If Quincy Williams is going to stick in the league, he's got to substantially improve his tackling
Missed tackle rate of 23.3% from 2019-20 was the worst among LBs with at least 500 snaps
— Michael Nania (@Michael_Nania) September 1, 2021
The Jets also added to their secondary, bringing in the former Browns safety Sheldrick Redwine.
Chosen in the fourth round in 2019, Redwine is perhaps best known for his postseason interception of Ben Roethlisberger during the AFC Wild Card playoffs against Pittsburgh in January, one that allowed the Browns to build a 28-0 first quarter lead en route to their first playoff win since 1994.
Former Miami Safety Sheldrick Redwine said playoff INT? I gotchu 😤 pic.twitter.com/Zff26LMGFR
— Saturday Gameday (@SaturdayGameday) January 11, 2021
Redwine started eight games over two seasons in Cleveland, picking up 69 tackles in his first couple of professional campaigns. He gives the Jets a much-needed fourth safety after their decision to release Sharrod Neasman left them with only Marcus Maye, Lamarcus Joyner, and the still-injured Ashtyn Davis.
New York opens its 2021 regular season on Sept. 12 against the Carolina Panthers (1 p.m. ET, CBS).
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
