This week against the Detroit Lions, the New York Jets’ edge rushers will face an intriguing test.
The Jets’ top advantage this week is on defense, as Gang Green currently has one of the league’s best units in that area, while Detroit’s is at the other end of the spectrum.
As New York’s defense looks to continue its hot start against a high-octane Lions offense, the Jets’ EDGE unit will take center stage.
New York’s edge rushers have a chance to make noise
No. 2 overall pick David Bailey has a chance for a true breakout game after a solid start to the season, featuring eight pressures and two “sacks” (both being chase-downs out of bounds) in two games.
Of his 78 snaps this season, Bailey has lined up on the left side of the defensive line 59 times (75.6%), which means he has consistently faced the opposing right tackle. His primary matchup this week depends on who Detroit decides to use on the right side. Either way, it’ll be an appealing opportunity for Bailey.
In Week 1, first-round rookie right tackle Blake Miller graded out well and allowed just one pressure, but he missed Week 2 with a knee injury. He has returned to practice in a limited capacity, but there’s still no definitive answer on his status for Sunday. If Miller plays, he will have an interesting test, facing the fellow rookie in Bailey while coming off an injury.
Given the elite explosiveness that Bailey has shown so far, ranking seventh among edge rushers with a 0.75-second average get-off time, he isn’t the type of player that Miller will want to see immediately after returning from a knee issue. That could give Bailey a window to get his first “pure” sack of the season.
If Miller sits again, though, Bailey will have an even better chance to take over the game. His matchup would be Larry Borom, who is coming off one of the worst games you will ever see from an NFL offensive lineman.
Filling in for Miller against the Buffalo Bills last week, Borom allowed a whopping 11 total pressures (including two sacks), the most in the league this season, to go with three penalties. On top of that, his 48.7 run-blocking grade at Pro Football Focus ranks 76th among 87 offensive tackles to play a snap this season.
Bailey is in line for his best game yet, but the Jets have a chance to do damage off the opposite edge, too.
Penei Sewell, who is widely regarded as one of the NFL’s top tackles, has faced some growing pains moving from right to left tackle this season. Through two games, he has allowed five pressures on 87 pass-blocking snaps, while logging a mediocre 63.0 pass-blocking grade at PFF. Sewell allowed a sack against Buffalo last week and got beat badly for a strip sack in Week 1 by Chase Young before it was called back due to a penalty.
A slow start to the season at a new position doesn’t mean we should throw out years of incredible tape on Sewell, but it’s another example of the Jets getting some of their strongest opponents at the perfect time. Since 2022, Sewell hasn’t allowed more than two sacks in a single season, and he would have already allowed two this season if not for a penalty calling one of them back.
New York’s primary rushers off the right edge (across from the left tackle) are Kingsley Enagbare (31 right-side pass-rush snaps) and Will McDonald (22), who have combined for nine total pressures and three sacks off that side of the line.
Enagbare has played very well to begin the season. He ranks second on the Jets with six total pressures, trailing just Bailey’s eight. Furthermore, he is tied with the No. 2 overall pick for the team lead with two sacks.
Enagbare is also tied for fifth among defensive linemen in total pass-rush wins (10), per ESPN.
McDonald, meanwhile, is arguably the team’s highest-ceiling pass rusher. Following a strong Week 1 showing, with five pressures and a sack, McDonald is looking to bounce back after a quiet Week 2.
Using McDonald in a situational pass-rushing role could be huge in the Jets’ effort to stop Detroit’s high-powered passing offense. With Joseph Ossai potentially set to return after fully practicing on Friday, the Jets should have enough reinforcements to use McDonald in that capacity, allowing him to be fully unleashed in the role that suits him best.
Through two games, Aaron Glenn has done a very good job of finding unique ways to generate pressure. We will see how he fares on Sunday, but among any play-caller in the league, he has some of the most insight into Detroit’s operation under Dan Campbell, having served as their defensive coordinator from 2021-24.
This week’s matchup will serve as a barometer for what the Jets’ edge room is really capable of.
