Jeff Ulbrich was tight-lipped about any major changes to the defense.
The Jets' interim head coach benched safety Tony Adams during the team's 28-27 loss to the Colts on Sunday at MetLife Stadium.
Chuck Clark returned from injury after four weeks, Jalen Mills, who replaced him, remained in the starting lineup at safety, and Adams remained on the bench.
Adams did not play a snap, just one week after playing 81 percent of the team's snaps on defense in a 31-6 loss to the Cardinals.
He had started all eight games prior to this season when healthy.
“There were a lot of things that went into it,” Ulbrich said Monday. “I don't want to go into detail about it, but there was a lot involved. It was in no way a disciplinary action.”
Adams signed as an undrafted free agent in 2022 and is in his third season with the Jets.
He emerged as a hidden gem last year, starting 15 games and recording three interceptions.
According to Pro Football Reference, he has been covered 30 times this year and has a 90.7 quarterback passer rating against him.
That's a significant increase from the quarterback's 69.5 passer rating that targeted him last year.
The Jets added kicker Anders Karlsson to the active roster. Carlson made his team debut on Sunday, converting both field goal attempts and all three extra point attempts, including a career 58-yarder. He was originally signed to the practice squad and promoted to the active roster for the game.
A week earlier, the Jets allowed the Chiefs, who were in need of a kicker due to an injury to Harrison Butker, to remove Spencer Shrader from the practice squad after hitting two field goals in the loss to the Cardinals.
The Jets cut defensive lineman Bruce Hector to make room.
In the past two games, QB Aaron Rodgers has thrown just six passes of 10 yards or more.
Ulbrich acknowledged Monday that the Jets “need to get the ball downfield,” but cited Rodgers as the reason they haven't been able to do that yet.
“He's one of the best players in history in terms of protecting the ball and not putting the ball in danger,” Ulbrich said. “I think a lot of it is that. For the sake of the team, he never wants to put the ball in jeopardy, he never wants to give an interception, and that's what he's done throughout his career. That's a big part of it.”
Ulbrich praised rookie first-round pick Olu Fashanu, who made his first career start at left tackle in place of injured Tyron Smith. Fashanu had previously started two games at right tackle in place of injured Morgan Moses.
“I played well,” Ulbrich said. “This kid is exactly what we expected. He's intelligent, athletic, big, powerful, and checks all the boxes except experience. He's ready to play.” The more you do it, the better it will be.”
Ulbrich said the Jets are still “gathering information” about Smith's injury and seeing how he responds to treatment. Smith left last week's loss to the Cardinals with a neck injury.
