On August 20, the Jets quietly made a trade, bringing in defensive tackle Jowon Briggs from the Browns in exchange for a sixth-round pick and a seventh-round pick. Initially, this move didn’t raise many eyebrows; however, its impact has become evident as the season progresses.
Briggs has turned out to be quite the pleasant surprise, stepping up as a starting player on defense, especially with Quinnen Williams now in Dallas. Jets coach Aaron Glenn expressed his satisfaction with the acquisition, noting, “I think it was a really good move for our scouting department. He’s a big guy and strong, and he’s quite effective at stopping the run. What’s impressive, though, is his ability to rush the passer.”
He added, “I’m not saying he’s the next Mean Joe Green, but he’s been pretty disruptive in the passing game too.” Interestingly, Briggs is tied for second on the team with Jermaine Johnson II, each having three sacks. And he’s made his mark in stopping players like Lamar Jackson just last week, playing a crucial role in the Jets’ improvement in run defense.
Defensive coordinator Steve Wilkes mentioned that the coaches had confidence in Briggs’s skills, stating, “I think we’re starting to see exactly what we envisioned over time. He can create one-on-ones and dominate. We saw that last week with him collapsing the pocket and getting those sacks.”
It seems both Briggs and Harrison Phillips have solidified their positions in the middle, allowing the outside players more opportunities to shine. Their collective performance has been noteworthy, although the Jets are dealing with injury concerns as they’ve downgraded cornerback Jarvis Brownlee Jr. to questionable for Sunday’s game. Additionally, wide receiver Allen Lazard has also been listed as questionable due to a neck issue. They promoted defensive back Jordan Clark and defensive end Eric Watts from the practice squad to add depth.
