Jeff Ulbrich provided some important injury updates for the New York Jets ahead of their Week 7 matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The interim head coach said that cornerbacks Michael Carter II (back) and D.J. Reed (groin) would not participate in practice. Ulbrich said there is some “concern” with Reed’s injury and said that he and Carter are unlikely to play this weekend.
He added that the team is “fortunate” to have depth at the position, namely Isaiah Oliver, who he called the team’s “Swiss Army Knife.”
“We’ve been so fortunate this year to have Isaiah Oliver. He is this Swiss Army knife back there. He’s played safety, nickel, and corner without blinking. So he’s doing a good job.”
Ulbrich added that Aaron Rodgers is dealing with an ankle injury. Rodgers was held out of Wednesday’s walkthrough but is expected to be back at practice on Thursday and fine for the game.
On defense, Will McDonald is dealing with a shoulder injury, and Chazz Surratt is dealing with a heel injury. However, both players participated in the walkthrough.
Ulbrich said Davante Adams will participate fully in the walkthrough and expects him to play against the Steelers on Sunday. He also spoke about incorporating Adams into the team’s offense.
“It’s a challenge for Todd Downing and the offensive staff to get him up to speed as quickly as possible. Fortunately, there’s a lot of familiarity with the offense, and it’s been a system he’s been a part of for years. So I don’t foresee it being a huge obstacle getting him going and involved.”
The interim head coach also said that the connection between Rodgers and Adams is very “unique” to see.
“They spent so much time together for one, but for two, they’re both like high football IQ guys who really can take their connection to another space.”
Regarding Garrett Wilson, Ulbrich talked about his ability to dominate out of the slot.
“Well, his movement is absolutely ridiculous. It doesn’t make sense. The way that he can change direction and come out of breaks, the way that he can set you up. It’s he’s like an And One basketball player out there. He’s virtually an impossible cover, in my opinion, in one-on-one,” said Ulbrich.
“He’s a problem. And now he’s starting to get way more detail into everything that he’s doing, learning the nuance of this game and, and then his relationship with Aaron is going to a deeper level, just more time on task together. So it’s really cool to see him growing and evolving as a football player. And as long as we see that, we’re just going to see this guy blossom into the superstar we know he can become.”
Asked about game planning for the Steelers, Ulbrich said he does not “expect much to change” from a passing game perspective. However, he said that New York has to account for Justin Fields’s scrambling ability.
“You know, where you have to count for Justin Fields is the scrambling and the quarterback runs, because he’ll have designed runs that aren’t necessarily Russell’s forte. Having an answer for the quarterback runs and then, at times, just accounting for this scrambler. And you do that a lot of different ways.
“Whether you appoint a spy or a free player from a cover standpoint, you can create more vision where more guys are looking at him. But we have answers either way.”
However, it appears the Jets may have to game plan for a different quarterback, as Russell Wilson began taking first-team reps for Pittsburgh this week.
Additionally, Ulbrich spoke about how the Jets plan to handle T.J. Watt on Sunday night.
“Again, it goes back to moving the target. Sometimes chipping them, sometimes sifting them, sometimes cutting them, and just keeping him off balance. You know, he’s a game wrecker. As we all know, he’s one of the best defensive players in this league, and he has generational talent. So you’ve got to account for him every single play.”
It will be very interesting to see how the Jets look on Sunday night against the Steelers. With their backs against the wall, the Jets’ fortitude will be tested. A win will help get the season back on track, while a loss may put a fork in them for this season.
