The new three-word motto was the first thing Quincy Williams wrote on social media in 2024 and was one of the last words he uttered during Jets training camp.
“My biggest goal this year is ‘leave no doubt,'” Williams said when asked with another regular season fast approaching how he can grow from the breakout that earned him first-team All-Pro honors in 2023. “I have to get better every day so that nobody feels like I’m not the best linebacker.”
Jets defensemen enjoyed a rare moment at the end of a joint practice with the Giants earlier this week, watching Aaron Rodgers slice through opponents rather than going head-to-head with the future Hall of Famer.
Williams found a way to challenge his offensive teammates from the sideline.
“The most important thing to me is I’m the fastest linebacker in the league,” Williams said. “So when I talk to offensive linemen, I say, ‘Look, if this linebacker lets me get past you and I don’t let him get past you, that’s a problem. I’m going to be pissed.'” As for receivers, the source [Gardner] and D.J. [Reed] — the No. 1 cornerback in the league — so it’s like, ‘Hey, if you let this guy get you, we don’t want to hear anything.'”
Williams finished training camp without achieving one of Rodgers’ goals – an interception.
“The first day he got here last year, I got the ball and I was so happy,” Williams said.
“I haven’t had a chance to pick him yet. My first pick will be to get him to sign, whether it’s on the practice squad or the practice squad, this year or next year. I don’t care. It’s a matter of respect.”
Williams’ play is a tribute to his own name.
TE Tyler Conklin is second on the Jets in catches and receiving yards over the past two seasons.
But Garrett Wilson shows no signs of giving up his throne after making two long touchdown catches from Rodgers in practice against the Giants.
“Garrett has been very consistent through our three joint practices,” Conklin said. “I feel like that combination is everything on my Twitter feed every day right now.”
Training camp ended without a resolution to resolve Haason Reddick’s holdout and trade request. Will he be with the team by Week 1?
“I don’t know,” coach Robert Saleh said. “Honestly, I haven’t really thought about it.”
In Redick’s absence, much of the attention has been focused on 2023 first-round draft pick Will McDonald.
But Michael Clemons could be a better base defensive starter than McDonald after the Jets abandoned plans to use Clemons in a hybrid role last year.
“We tried to get him up to a certain weight and see if he could be an inside-outside player,” Saleh said. “Bad decision, bad advice from a good coaching staff. But he’s in really good shape. He’s in really good shape and is setting the edge he needs. And he’s really been producing in the passing game.”
Saleh said McDonald, Clemons and Tukk McKinley all got unexpected playing time and “seized the opportunity.”
Cornerback Michael Carter (ankle) has been out for three weeks, but Saleh expects him to be back for the three practices next week before the Week 1 break.
