The New York Jets’ defense will have to survive without Minkah Fitzpatrick for multiple games, but his absence is not expected to be long-term.
According to a report from Jordan Schultz, Fitzpatrick is expected to miss 2-3 weeks with the groin injury he suffered in the first quarter of the team’s Week 1 victory over the Tennessee Titans.
The Jets’ next three games are against NFC North opponents: the Green Bay Packers (home), the Detroit Lions (road), and the Chicago Bears (road).
Based on the 2-3 week timeline, Fitzpatrick will miss the battles with Green Bay and Detroit, while the trip to Chicago is the earliest he could return. If he misses all three games, the Jets will host the Cleveland Browns in Week 5 for Fitzpatrick’s likely return.
New York initially planned to sign safety Dean Clark to their practice squad for added depth behind Fitzpatrick, bringing him in for a physical, but the team ultimately elected not to sign Clark, perhaps suggesting that they do not Fitzpatrick’s injury is a long-term issue, aligning with the reported 2-3 week timeline.
If Fitzpatrick were placed on injured reserve, he would have to miss a minimum of four games.
The Jets’ defense did not miss Fitzpatrick after he went down just six snaps into his New York debut. They held the Titans to 10 points, 195 yards, and 11 first downs in a dominant performance.
Fitzpatrick got the start alongside Dane Belton in the Jets’ secondary. Andre Cisco filled in for Fitzpatrick after the former Dolphins and Steelers star went down.
Expect Belton and Cisco to hold down the back end of the Jets’ secondary over the next three games. They will be tested; a three-game run against the high-octane offenses of the NFC North is far from an ideal stretch to lose your best safety.
