The Jets fell short to the Panthers, 13-6, on Sunday, grappling with injuries to some key players.
Receiver Garrett Wilson, who’s arguably their top offensive asset, was already sidelined with a hyperextended knee.
Additionally, cornerback Sauce Gardner sustained a head injury during the second half, which didn’t help matters.
Running back Breece Hall also went down after a Panthers player essentially landed on him—a move Hall described as a hip-drop tackle, which isn’t allowed in the NFL.
In the first half, defensive tackle Jay Tufre was lost to a knee injury. Meanwhile, running back and returner Kane Wang-Wu also suffered a concussion, joining Gardner in that regard.
“Let’s evaluate those injuries closer as the week unfolds,” Jets head coach Aaron Glenn mentioned, leaving some uncertainty in the air.
Hall made his debut last week without being targeted at all, and he only had a couple of touches in the second half. Glenn pointed out that his performance waned after he got hurt in the first half.
“Breece was dealing with some issues, but he fought through it, and I want to commend him for that. Early on, he was running well, but they tightened their defense against the run,” Glenn added.
Hall himself voiced frustration about the no-call on the tackle. “I’m hurt, but I’m eager to play. I want to contribute, but honestly, I just didn’t do enough to help us win today,” he said.
Looking at Wilson’s potential availability for next week, Glenn commented, “He’s been close to returning, but we didn’t want to rush him back. It’s crucial to protect him from making a hasty decision.”
When asked about the offensive play-calling by Tanner Engstrand, Glenn didn’t exactly show enthusiasm. “That’s a fair question. A lot of folks are quick to assign blame, but this is a shared responsibility. It’s not just one person at fault,” he explained, hinting at a collective effort needed to address the issues.
Glenn intended to be aggressive in this game, which led him to go for it on a 4th-and-5 from the Panthers’ 33-yard line, despite it not paying off in the end. “I liked the plan, and I told the guys that we’d keep being aggressive in those situations,” he noted, clearly it was a gamble that didn’t pan out.
Defensive lineman Jowon Briggs had a notable performance, securing his second sack of the season and forcing the Panthers to punt with four tackles, including two for loss, and two QB hits.
Linebacker Jamian Sherwood also made an impact, registering 10 tackles and his first sack of the season. His impressive 70 tackles in the first seven games is among the best in the league.
On a positive note, kicker Nick Folk continued his streak, making both of his field goal attempts. He’s now converted all 14 attempts this season, which is impressive given that only one other Jets kicker in the last 40 years has had a longer streak at this point.
