The New York Jets’ beleaguered defense suffers yet another blow
Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, New York Jets rookie linebacker Jamien Sherwood tore his Achillies during Sunday’s disastrous loss against New England and is out for the remainder of the season.
Jets’ rookie LB Jamien Sherwood, who has been a major contributor this season, torn his Achilles and will miss the rest of the season, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 25, 2021
Sherwood is the latest notable metropolitan defensive contributor to miss significant time, joining Carl Lawson, Jarrad Davis, Lamarcus Joyner, Vinny Curry, Marcus Maye, and C.J. Mosley.
Chosen in the fifth round of last spring’s draft, Sherwood was called upon to take over for Mosley on Sunday. The latter was unavailable against the Patriots due to an ankle injury suffered two weeks prior in the Jets’ international game in London.
Sherwood was granted “green dot” duties in Mosley’s place, wearing the green sticker on his helmet that confirms he’s the one in radio contact with the coaching staff on the sidelines.
The Auburn alum played a career-high 52 snaps on Sunday and had two tackles in the 54-13 defeat. Del’Shawn Phillips took over in Sherwood’s place.
The Jets’ coach had high praise for Sherwood before he embarked on the ill-fated extended opportunity.
“We’re really excited about Jamien,” head coach Robert Saleh said last week, per notes from the Jets. “He’s one of the guys that I think is going to be a staple here for a while … The amount of stuff he gets out of his mouth, pre-snap wise, with regards to close calls, checks, and all of it is fascinating for a rookie. He’s very, very confident. He knows everybody’s job and so our confidence of him with the green dot is fine.”
Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich added, “He’s an unusual rookie because, rookies, they’re so known for, not necessarily, having the awareness, the ability to communicate, all those things, whereas Jamien is not that at all. He carries himself like a vet. He communicates like a vet. Although he doesn’t have the experience that a C.J. has, he’s a guy that we have a lot of trust in.”
The Jets (1-5), sans Sherwood, will return to action on Sunday afternoon at home against the Cincinnati Bengals (1 p.m. ET, CBS).
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
