One of the main talking points in Jets training camp was what second-year edge rusher Will McDonald would do this season.
McDonald entered 2024 with many questions about whether the Jets made a mistake in taking him 15th overall in 2023.
McDonald answered these questions.
The 25-year-old now has 10 sacks this season after recording two sacks against the Seahawks last week.
While falling short of his goal of 20 sacks this season, McDonald showed he should be a part of the Jets' future once a new general manager and head coach are in place.
“He's just another bright spot in a season where there haven't been as many bright spots as you'd like,” Jets interim coach Jeff Ulbrich said. “And that's definitely a byproduct of his process, a guy who gained nearly 20 pounds this offseason and maintained that weight all year. Not a naturally big guy, a guy has to work on it and he is doing so.
“All of his practice habits have been elite and all of that shows in his sack production, so I'm happy about those things, but I'm really excited about Will.”
McDonald had three sacks in limited playing time as a rookie, further raising questions about whether the Jets were wise to select him out of Iowa State in the first round.
The Jets indicated they had their own doubts about how much McDonald played in the preseason.
He was often the only defensive starter in preseason games.
But when the Jets made Bryce Huff a free agent and then held out Haason Reddick until late in the season, the door opened for McDonald.
The Jets' edge depth was further tested when Jermaine Johnson suffered a season-ending injury in Week 2.
McDonald made the most of the opportunity. He's not going to break Mark Gastineau's team record of 22 sacks, but if he can get three sacks in the final five games, he'll become the first Jet to have 13 sacks since John Abraham did it in 2001. There is a possibility that it will happen.
The Jets ruled running back Breece Hall (knee) out of Sunday's game.
Hall was initially listed as questionable by the Jets on Friday, but the Jets demoted him to ejection on Saturday.
Hall injured his knee against the Colts three weeks ago and was able to play in last week's game against the Seahawks, but did not practice all week.
Rookies Braeron Allen and Isaiah Davis will get the majority of the carries in Hall's absence.
Rookie cornerback Quantez Stigers (illness) was also ruled out.
DT Solomon Thomas was fined $16,883 for a horse collar tackle against the Seahawks.
The Jets have officially placed WR Allen Lazard and OL Wes Schweitzer on injured reserve for Sunday's game.
They pulled up CB Kendall Sheffield.
LB CJ Mosley was officially placed on injured reserve and C Connor McGovern was released.
