The Jets will have both of their quarterbacks available for Sunday’s game against the Browns, but they aren’t saying which one of them will be getting the start.
Tyrod Taylor (knee) has no injury designation for the game after a week of full practices. Taylor appeared to be on track to start in Week 8, but wound up inactive because of his knee and Justin Fields had a strong outing in a 39-38 comeback win over the Bengals.
Head coach Aaron Glenn declined to discuss his quarterback plans after the win or at any other point in the last two weeks, and he maintained his line during a Friday press conference.
“Our guys know who’s going to be the quarterback,” Glenn said, via a transcript from the team. “I know who’s going to be the quarterback. It’s just not my responsibility to have to tell you that.”
The Jets listed running back Khalil Herbert (groin), linebacker Kiko Mauigoa (concussion), offensive lineman Xavier Newman (ankle), and wide receiver Garrett Wilson (knee) are listed as questionable. Wilson missed the last two games, but has been practicing since the team returned from its bye week and sounded confident that he’ll be playing when he spoke to reporters this week.
Shedeur Sanders will be back as the No. 2 quarterback for the Browns this week.
Sanders was inactive for the team’s Week 8 loss to the Patriots due to a back injury, but he returned to practice this week and head coach Kevin Stefanski said he will be active against the Jets. Dillon Gabriel remains the starting quarterback for Cleveland.
Linebacker Carson Schwesinger played against New England, but suffered an ankle injury in the game. Schwesinger will be listed as questionable to play on Sunday.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (hamstring) is expected to be activated from injured reserve, but is officially listed as questionable. Tight end Harold Fannin (hamstring) and tackle Cornelius Lucas are also going to be in the questionable group. Lucas’ injury is a new one and has not been disclosed yet.
Wide receiver Isaiah Bond (foot) is the only player who has been ruled out at this point.
Wide receiver Garrett Wilson expects to return to the Jets’ lineup on Sunday after missing two games with a knee injury, but he won’t be returning to the same Jets team that took the field in his last appearance.
Cornerback Sauce Gardner and defensive tackle Quinnen Williams were traded for a haul of draft picks that the Jets hope to use to build the cornerstone of a winning team. It leaves a 1-7 team even shorter on talent in the near term, however, and Wilson said on Thursday that he was “shocked” to learn of the deals.
Wilson said he hates that he won’t be playing with Gardner and Williams, but added that he’s “paid to play football” and that he’s excited to continue doing it with the Jets.
“I get paid to catch passes, block, help my teammates out, make plays, you know what I’m saying?” Wilson said, via Rich Cimini of ESPN.com. "[The front office gets] paid to do that. I’m going to play football and I’m excited, man. I’m excited to go at this thing and chase it. They have a vision. Like I said, I don’t get paid to have a vision. They do and they got one and I have to trust them, man. I do.”
Wilson has 36 catches for 395 yards and four touchdowns so far this season. He’ll try to add to those totals against the Browns in Sunday’s home game.
The Jets made some high-profile trades this week, sending players elsewhere for significant future assets.
But there was at least one deal New York apparently elected not to make.
According to Nate Taylor of ESPN, the Jets turned down an offer from the Chiefs for running back Breece Hall.
Taylor reports Kansas City was willing to trade a 2026 fourth-round pick for Hall, but New York wanted a third-round selection. While Hall was willing to be moved after the trades of cornerback Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams, the Chiefs and Jets could not come to an agreement, so Hall stayed put.
The Chiefs felt a third-round pick in 2026 with contractual control for four years was more valuable than eight games and a potential postseason run with Hall.
Chiefs starting running back Isiah Pacheco is currently dealing with an MCL sprain, but Taylor notes the club is optimistic Pacheco will be able to return after a Week 10 bye. Kareem Hunt and Brashard Smith have also been options at running back this season, while Elijah Mitchell remains on the 53-man roster and Clyde Edwards-Helaire is on the practice squad.
Hall has rushed for 581 yards with two touchdowns this season, averaging 5.0 yards per carry. He’s also caught 21 passes for 178 yards.
The Colts traded receiver AD Mitchell to the Jets this week as part of the deal for cornerback Sauce Gardner.
A second-round pick in 2024, Mitchell looked like he was on his way to having a breakout game against the Rams back in Week 4. But then he infamously dropped the ball before crossing the goal line while trying to celebrate a potential touchdown.
Mitchell had made just two catches for 15 yards since that game, clearly falling out of favor with head coach Shane Steichen, who also serves as Indianapolis’ offensive play-caller.
In his Wednesday press conference, Steichen was asked if he had a chance to talk to Mitchell since the Colts agreed to the deal.
“I did. We talked to him before the trade happened, right before it happened,” Steichen said, via transcript from the team. “And obviously, I got a lot of respect for AD. I think AD is a very talented player. This is part of the business. Like I said, I wish him all the best. I hope he goes and has great success in New York.”
Mitchell appeared in 25 career games for the Colts with eight starts. He caught 32 passes for 464 yards with the club.
