Three of the New York Jets’ key defensive contributors have their availability up in the air ahead of Thursday night’s home opener against the New England Patriots.
During his media availability, head coach Robert Saleh spoke about the status of cornerback D.J. Reed (knee), linebacker C.J. Mosley (toe), and cornerback Michael Carter II (ankle).
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“Yeah, (Michael) Carter, like I said, it will be an on-and-off thing. He’s going to be fine. D.J. (Reed) is progressing well, and so is C.J. (Mosley)… Today, we are going to do a full-speed individual workout, which will kind of tell us a lot about where they’re at to get their bodies moving and try to get rid of some of that lactic acid from the game. But, it’s a little bit tougher on a short week.”
Saleh also said that all three players are “50-50” to play against the Patriots in two days.
It is good that Mosley, Reed, and Carter II are progressing with their injuries. The Jets’ defense needs to be as healthy as possible going forward, especially after Jermaine Johnson‘s Achilles injury.
However, New York needs to play this situation smart. Their goals are in January and February, not September. There is no need to push Reed or Mosley if they cannot play at their best. And while Carter II seems likelier to play, the Jets should consider their options with him on a short week.
Even without some key contributors on defense, the Jets, who are currently favored by 6.5 points, should have enough to beat New England. As they look toward a possible playoff run, they need to think about the future health of their players in the present.
