The Jets will be down a receiver for Sunday’s game in Kansas City after ruling out Garrett Wilson and the Chiefs will be short a cornerback.
Head coach Andy Reid told reporters on Friday that Mansoor Delane will miss the game because of a shoulder injury. It will be the second game in a row that the first-round pick has missed, but he was able to practice on a limited basis this week.
Kristian Fulton and Nohl Williams started at corner in Delane’s absence last weekend.
Reid also said that defensive tackle Peter Woods will miss the matchup with the Jets. Woods, who has been out of practice with a neck injury, will miss a game for the first time this season.
After Sunday’s loss to the Raiders, Jets safety Minkah Fitzpatrick said something that caused a bit of a controversy, but Fitzpatrick says there was no controversy with the only people who matter to him.
Fitzpatrick said what sounded like the loss was a case of the “Jets being Jets,” but after that quote took off, the Jets told reporters that Fitzpatrick had actually said, “Jets beating Jets.” Some thought Fitzpatrick was saying the Jets are fundamentally a bad franchise and that losing like they did is just who they are, but the Jets insisted Fitzpatrick was saying the Jets just need to cut down on their mistakes and stop beating themselves.
Asked about the quote on Thursday, Fitzpatrick said it’s a non-issue with his teammates, and that’s what’s important to him.
“It hasn’t really caused any stir within this locker room, and I think that’s the most important thing. Everyone in this locker room knew what I was talking about,” Fitzpatrick said. “Everybody within this locker room knew exactly what I said and what I was trying to communicate, and in my opinion that’s all that matters.”
Fitzpatrick said his teammates aren’t upset and the focus is on winning on Sunday.
“I know what I said, and that’s all I’m going to say,” Fitzpatrick said. “It doesn’t matter. We’re playing Kansas City this week. The locker room knows what I said, or what I meant to say, however you want to put it. Either way, it doesn’t matter. This locker room needs to focus on winning right now, and not something that I might have not said or something I might have done. Our focus and our objective now is to win and figure out what we need to win, not focus on shoulda, woulda, coulda.”
Ultimately, Fitzpatrick said, what the 2-6 Jets need is to get to 3-6 on Sunday.
The Jets confirmed that they will be without wide receiver Garrett Wilson for Sunday’s game in Kansas City.
Wilson is in the concussion protocol and did not practice on Wednesday and Thursday, so head coach Aaron Glenn’s announcement about Wilson on Friday was an expected development. Sunday’s game will be the first that Wilson has missed this season.
Wilson has 43 catches for 527 yards and three touchdowns on the season. Adonai Mitchell and rookie Omar Cooper will be the Jets’ top wideouts this weekend.
Glenn said that running back Breece Hall (quad), linebacker David Bailey (groin), and tight end Mason Taylor (neck) are all set to play. Cornerback Nahshon Wright (back), linebacker Joseph Ossai (ankle), and defensive lineman Harrison Phillips (ankle) will be listed as questionable to face the Chiefs.
It looks like running back Breece Hall will be back in the Jets lineup this week.
Hall practiced in full for the first time since suffering the quad injury that has kept him out for the last five games. Hall said after practice that he is ready to play against the Chiefs.
Braelon Allen has impressed during Hall’s absence and is coming off a season-high 147 yards against the Raiders. Offensive coordinator Frank Reich was asked about how the team will balance the workload during a Thursday press conference.
“We have some plays that are tagged for one or the other, but it’s a great problem to have,” Reich said, via a transcript from the team. “You got two number one backs. Breece is obviously the bell cow, he’s our guy, but it’ll be a mix. And as far as hot hand, not hot hand, I think that’s always an in-game feel thing, it really is. My experience in it, because I’ve had that experience, I know I haven’t had two guys like this, but yeah, it’s just an in-game feel thing.”
Linebacker David Bailey (groin), linebacker Joseph Ossai (ankle), linebacker Demario Davis (rest), safety VJ Payne (knee), and tight end Mason Taylor (neck) also moved up to full participation. Defensive lineman Harrison Phillips (ankle), linebacker Trevin Wallace (groin), and wide receiver Garrett Wilson (concussion) remained out of practice.
Chiefs cornerback Mansoor Delane missed last Sunday’s loss to the Broncos with a shoulder injury and his outlook for Week 9’s home game against the Jets looks a little better after Wednesday’s practice.
Delane was able to participate in practice on a limited basis on Wednesday. Head coach Andy Reid called Delane day-to-day earlier in the week, so the Chiefs will be looking for him to remain on a positive trajectory.
Tight end Travis Kelce (ankle), defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott (knee), wide receiver Nikko Remigio (hip), and wide receiver Rashee Rice (hamstring, knee) were also limited participants.
Defensive lineman Peter Woods (neck) was the only player out of practice while linebacker Drue Tranquill (pectoral) and quarterback Patrick Mahomes (knee) were listed as full participants.
