D'Angelo

Ponds

We knew Fitzpatrick had already been ruled out with a groin injury. D’Angelo Pounds had practiced all week, and Jets head coach Aaron Glenn said that he was healthy enough to play, but apparently there is no room for him in the secondary at the moment. The good news for the Jets is that Will McDonald (ankle) is active and will play.

McDonald popped up on Thursday’s injury report with an ankle injury, but speaking with the media on Friday, Glenn said the fourth-year pass rusher will be good to go for Sunday’s game against the Packers. Rookie CB D’Angelo Ponds, who missed last week with an ankle injury, is also expected to make his NFL debut this week, giving the Jets additional help in the secondary.

Ponds had a doubtful status despite three limited practices this week and looks to be questionable for Week 2, when he’ll again try to make his NFL Debut. Also inactive for the Jets are: KR Kene Nwangwu (back), K Blake Grupe, LB Trevin Wallace and ED Joseph Ossai (foot.) Ossai is regarded as week-to-week and Nwangwu’s back was a surprise Friday listing on the injury report.

The Jets have not released their final injury report, but this news comes from head coach Aaron Glenn, who spoke with the media Friday morning. Ponds was a limited participant in each of the team’s first two practices this week, but the belief is he hasn’t had enough time to be ready for the season opener. It doesn’t sound like the second-round rookie has suffered any setbacks in his recovery, so hopefully he’ll be on track to make his debut in Week 2 against the Packers. Glenn also said RB Kene Nwangwu (back) is doubtful while EDGE Joseph Ossai (foot) and WR Tim Patrick (groin) will be held out of Sunday’s game.

This comes a few hours after it was reported that Hall was “moving well” while participating in agility drills on the sideline. Hall suffered a groin injury last week and is expected to miss two or three weeks, but a return in time for Week 1 was always in the cards. Hall is one of several players Glenn is hoping to have back in time for Week 1. He also said he expects TE Kenyon Sadiq (hernia) and CB D’Angelo Ponds (calf) to be ready for Week 1. Hall is in the mix as a fringe RB1/RB2 this season and is expected to handle another heavy workload in his fifth season.

Glenn said the same last week, so it’s good to know plans haven’t changed. That said, the rookie tight end has been sidelined since early August after suffering a setback in his recovery from offseason hernia surgery, so it’s hard to imagine him having much of an impact in Week 1, even if active. We’ll continue to get updates on Sadiq until he’s back on the field, but at least he appears to be on track to meet Glenn’s return timeline. In addition to Sadiq, Glenn said he also expects CB D’Angelo Ponds (calf) to return for Week 1.

Ponds will join a New York coverage unit that was by far the NFL’s worst in 2025. No team allowed a higher drop back EPA than the Jets last season and six teams gave up a higher drop back success rate. Ponds (5’8/182) is a hyper-competitive, zone-savvy ball-hawk who pairs elite production with high-end speed metrics (4.38 forty, 8.25 RAS). He logged 778 snaps in 2025 with an 89.9 overall grade and 89.5 coverage grade, allowing just 32 receptions on 64 targets (50.0%) for 379 yards while consistently driving on throws from off leverage. Ponds’ three-year résumé shows steady ball disruption with strong efficiency at 0.41 yards per coverage snap in 2025 and a career 6.1% missed tackle rate. His play style is defined by excellent route recognition, spacing, and vertical carry speed, enabling him to stay in-phase and contest downfield targets despite a 5’8/182 frame. However, his lack of length and play strength shows up at the catch point and versus physical route stems, where bigger receivers can displace him and limit his finishing radius.