Ahead of the regular season, it was disappointing news that the New York Jets would be without projected starting edge rusher Joseph Ossai due to a foot injury.

However, two games into the year without him, the Jets’ edge rushers have looked very solid, with several players rising to the occasion.

Now, as the Jets gear up for their Week 3 matchup against the Detroit Lions, Ossai could be making his debut in the green and white. As he continues to deal with his foot injury, he is a game-time decision, though he fully participated in Friday’s practice after being limited Wednesday and Thursday.

If he makes his debut today, where does he fit in after his teammates have been impressive during his absence?

How does Ossai slide in?

Kingsley Enagbare, another Jets free agent pickup this offseason, has been excellent filling in for Ossai. His six pressures rank second on the team, and he is tied for a team-high with two sacks and four stops. Furthermore, the former Green Bay Packer is also tied for fifth among defensive linemen in total pass-rush wins (10), per ESPN.

David Bailey and Will McDonald, meanwhile, are the Jets’ most explosive pass-rushing options. They are very different players from the more balanced edge defenders in Enagbare and Ossai, who provide respectable pass-rushing juice but are mostly known for their run-stopping off the edge.

Then, there is Braiden McGregor, who has been a pleasant surprise as the Jets’ fourth edge rusher. Initially, it was perplexing why he made the roster over preseason star Nate Lynn, but he has fared pretty well in his role so far.

If he plays today, Ossai’s clearest path to snaps is on early downs, especially due to the matchup. The Jets are facing off against Jahmyr Gibbs, who is one of the league’s most explosive running backs. When he gets in space off the outside, he has the ability to change the trajectory of a game.

Among 53 qualified edge defenders in 2025, here is how Ossai stacked up in key categories as a run defender:

  • 70.7 run defense grade from Pro Football Focus (13th)
  • 6.4% stop rate (22nd)

He can clearly hold his own in that area. McDonald and Bailey certainly don’t offer that proven ability and are more pass-rush-centric at the moment. A few solid games have yet to put McGregor in that category either.

If Ossai is active, Glenn could use him in a few ways. He could pair the former Cincinnati Bengal with Enagbare on earlier downs when the Jets need rock-solid run defense. Bailey and McDonald would still have plenty of opportunities to rush Goff, particularly in obvious passing situations.

Then there’s the option of lining up Ossai alongside McDonald or Bailey to get a balanced look on early downs, giving the Jets a blend of run-stopping and pass-rushing against a Lions team known for its play-action pass game.

How Glenn deploys snaps among those five players will be fascinating to watch. The core four, of course, is Ossai, McDonald, Bailey, and Enagbare, with McGregor looking like a valuable depth option against the run.

Early on in the season, teams are still figuring out how to rotate their players at positions like EDGE. If Ossai plays, today could be a sneak peek of how the Jets want to utilize the unit when everyone is healthy.