Each week in the NFL, teams need different position groups to step up for several different reasons.

For the New York Jets in their Week 1 matchup against the Tennessee Titans, they needed their cornerback room to make a statement, and the group did just that.

Jets’ CBs succeed

In particular, Brownlee needed to deliver. It was his first game against his former team, and he wasn’t expected to have an easy matchup, lining up against Titans WR Wan’Dale Robinson, who led the NFL in slot receiving yards for the 2025 season.

With second-round rookie D’Angelo Ponds injured, the Jets’ expected starter in the slot this season, Brownlee, was asked to take on a starting role, and it’s fair to say that he did everything he could with it.

He led the team in Pro Football Focus’ coverage grade with an 82.0 mark throughout 28 coverage snaps. On four throws in his direction, he allowed just two to be completed for a total of eight yards (4.0 YPC) while surrendering just a 56.3 passer rating when targeted.

Only one of Robinson’s six targets came against Brownlee, and it wasn’t a completion, showing how Brownlee helped limit Robinson’s impact despite a difficult slot assignment. He also continued to provide a boost in run support, posting a team-leading 78.2 run defense grade at PFF.

Brownlee’s challenge will be to build on this showing and carry the momentum. As we saw last season, he made an immediate impact after he was acquired. However, over the remainder of the season, his play seemed to come down to earth.

Just as encouraging: he wasn’t flagged. Penalties were a massive issue for the CB last season, totaling nine and leading the Jets.

Brandon Stephens also started the season on the right foot. Last year, there were a lot of ups and downs for the CB. In his first season with the Jets, he struggled mightily the first few weeks, then had a mid-season turnaround, but again struggled in the final few games.

So, overall, there were some highs with Stephens in his first season with the Jets, but also a lot of red flags, such as his 8:0 touchdown-to-interception ratio.

On Sunday, though, he showed up and did his job. Across 40 coverage snaps, he earned a 63.4 coverage grade, courtesy of PFF. Across five throws into his coverage, Stephens allowed two completions for 26 yards (13.0 YPC), while forcing an incompletion. He allowed just a 57.1 passer rating when targeted.

As for Thomas, his 75.2 coverage grade finished second on the team behind only Brownlee. He allowed seven receptions on eight targets for 46 yards (6.6 YPC) and a touchdown, but on a snap-to-snap basis, he was productive. Thomas led the team with five tackles and three stops.

While his 130.2 passer rating when targeted looks ugly, that number was inflated by the touchdown he allowed on just eight targets. Outside of that, Thomas kept everything in front of him, and receivers averaged just 6.6 yards per reception going against him.

Aaron Glenn also did a great job of utilizing him in different packages during his first game as the Jets’ defensive play-caller. Glenn moved him around the field, even sending him after Cam Ward on a cornerback blitz.

Entering the season, cornerback was one of the more uncertain areas on Gang Green’s depth chart. Brownlee was filling in for an injured rookie, Stephens was coming off an inconsistent 2025 season, and Thomas was entering the year with plenty to prove as a full-time starter.

While it was just Week 1, all three players answered the call.