One of the New York Jets’ most fascinating offseason additions in 2026 was cornerback Nahshon Wright.

Gang Green picked him up on a low-risk one-year deal after a Pro Bowl campaign in 2025, which included five interceptions, the most among cornerbacks.

The Jets only had to guarantee him $3.5 million on a one-year contract for a reason, though. His coverage struggles made him a boom-or-bust player in 2025.

Wright surrendered 725 yards and seven touchdowns, both ranked as the fifth-most among CBs. He and Washington’s Mike Sainristil were the league’s only two CBs to allow at least 700 yards and seven touchdowns in coverage.

Even with that in mind, his ceiling remains enticing. However, through two weeks, Wright has yet to take a defensive snap for the Jets.

Why is that?

Why Wright has not seen the field

Over the Jets’ first two games, here is a look at how they’ve divvied up their boundary CB snaps among their secondary, per Pro Football Focus:

  • Azareye’h Thomas (102)
  • Brandon Stephens (97)
  • Jarvis Brownlee Jr. (1)
  • Andre Cisco (1)

Thomas and Stephens, the Jets’ starters, have played very well on the outside to begin the season, particularly Thomas. In the slot, Jarvis Brownlee Jr. has also risen to the occasion with the absence of second-round rookie D’Angelo Ponds, who was the Jets’ projected starter at slot CB before a calf injury cost him his summer.

Due to the strong play of Thomas and Stephens, they have combined to play essentially all of the Jets’ boundary CB snaps. They are every-down players for the team, and they have not given the Jets any reason to switch things up.

When the two starters are doing their jobs, why would the Jets try to rotate other CBs into the game? Wright also didn’t particularly flash over the summer, and some of it was out of his control, as he was sidelined for part of the time due to a hip injury.

Wright is a volatile player. Over two games, the Jets have done an excellent job limiting explosive plays, allowing just one 20+ yard play this season, the second-best mark in the league. The reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks are the only team that hasn’t allowed a 20+ yard play this season.

When Wright is on the field, you run the risk of giving up big plays. While he may also collect some interceptions (and the Jets still haven’t snapped their historic INT drought), he is just too much of a liability in coverage.

That isn’t to say that Wright does not have legitimately strong ball skills. Four of Wright’s five interceptions last season came from excellent reads and plays on the ball; only one was “fluky” (coming on a Hail Mary). His ball-hawking ability is certainly valuable, but living with the yards he consistently allows is tough.

Right now, that trade-off just isn’t worth it for the Jets. New York has allowed a league-low 197 total yards per game, and opponents are converting just 23.8% of their third downs. Much of the credit for that success is due to Thomas and Stephens, who haven’t given the Jets many reasons to take them out of the game.

This isn’t to say that Wright won’t find the field at all this season. He will certainly get a chance to contribute at some point this year, as injuries are a part of the game. There could be weeks when he starts.

However, as of now, the Jets’ best move is to continue keeping Thomas and Stephens on the field for the vast majority of the game.