A year ago, around this time and heading into the Jets’ seventh game, Will McDonald IV was enjoying a breakout season.
He had already notched his seventh sack. With the injuries to Jermain Johnson and the delayed debut of Haason Reddick until Week 8, McDonald, who was a first-round pick in 2023, found himself flourishing in a more significant role.
In November, he expressed ambitions to surpass sack records held by Mark Gastineau (22 sacks) and Michael Strahan (22.5 sacks) in the NFL, and at his current pace, those milestones seemed achievable.
However, this season has been a different story. McDonald has only managed two sacks in the first week, leaving him without any others in the subsequent four games.
After a strong start to the year—something head coach Aaron Glenn highlighted—McDonald has continually applied pressure in all but one game. Both Glenn and Johnson still believe he can recapture last year’s performance.
“Don’t panic,” Glenn advised. “It’s crucial to stay within the defensive scheme and not get sidetracked. You need to capitalize on matchups that allow for one-on-ones, as that will inevitably lead to more sacks.”
Johnson, for his part, is confident that McDonald has the potential to break the sack record eventually. “He’s a unique player,” Johnson remarked, noting McDonald’s versatility on defense.
Johnson also shared how, while he was sidelined due to injury last season, he told McDonald he still had room to grow, to which McDonald agreed.
Last season, McDonald finished with 10.5 sacks, although he only achieved 3.5 in the last 11 games. Still, with a starting role expected in 2024, rethinking that sack record seems more realistic now. The possibility appeared promising when he managed to sack Aaron Rodgers twice in Week 1, but, as time passes, that likelihood may start to wane.
Nonetheless, the Jets maintain their belief in McDonald’s potential to reach those heights.
“I believe every pass rusher should aim high,” Johnson stated. “It’s the unspoken objective of every player in this position… You don’t enter the league without ambition.”
