The Jets are the first NFL team since turnovers were first tracked in 1933 to start the season by going five games without forcing one.
Hooray?
Another turnover-free game on Sunday morning against the Broncos in London would match the 2018 49ers as the only team to ever go six games in a row without making a turnover happen.
With the goal of getting a turnover, and even more importantly a win, the Jets’ defense held a players-only meeting before they boarded a plane for England.
Via Rich Cimini of ESPN.com, Jets defensive end Jermaine Johnson revealed that the get-together happened during a Friday media session.
“Everybody was on the same page,” Johnson said, per Cimini. “We have to be better. We can’t be the reason we lose. That can’t happen. We have too much talent.
“Coach [Aaron Glenn] has had our back as far as how he runs this thing, instilling a certain culture in here. We have to have his back by putting a good product out there. That’s our job. We definitely take full accountability.”
Johnson is expected to return to the lineup on Sunday after missing three games with an ankle injury.
Earlier in the week, defensive tackle Quinnen Williams put the blame for the team’s winless start squarely on the defense.
“We’re 0-5 and the defense has been the problem, the reason why we’re 0-5,” Williams said, per Cimini, adding that the Jets have “probably the worst defense in the league.”
No one is pointing fingers, just thumbs. Including defensive coordinator Steve Wilks.
“Everything is on me,” Wilks said this week, via Cimini.
During last week’s loss to the Cowboys, with a 37-22 outcome that looked far more respectable than the lopsided 30-3 margin late in the third quarter, a vibe began to emerge that Glenn could be one-and-done with the Jets. While that’s not likely the case, a win would help. Especially in London, where owner Woody Johnson served as the U.S. ambassador in the first Trump administration.
Last year, a loss to the Vikings in London sparked the firing of coach Robert Saleh. This year, it would drop the Jets to 0-6.
The good news is that a pair of objectively winnable games are looming, at home against the Panthers and at Cincinnati. A win in either or both becomes critical to avoid entering the bye at 0-8.
Jets head coach Aaron Glenn broke down most of the team’s injury report during a Friday press conference, but there was one late addition to the list.
Cornerback Brandon Stephens was added to the report with a neck injury. He was limited in practice on Friday and is listed as questionable to face the Broncos on Sunday.
Stephens has started all five games for the Jets, but has not fared well in pass coverage for most of those appearances.
Linebacker Ja’Markis Winston (groin) is also listed as questionable. Cornerback Michael Carter (concussion) and wide receiver Allen Lazard (personal) have been ruled out.
The Broncos have handed in their final injury report for Sunday’s game against the Jets in London.
Defensive tackle Malcolm Roach is the only player who drew a questionable tag. Roach has not played yet this season due to a calf injury and practiced fully the last two days of the week.
Roach will need to be added to the active roster by Saturday afternoon in order to play on Sunday. He had 43 tackles, 2.5 sacks, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery for the team in 2024.
The Broncos ruled guard Ben Powers (biceps) and linebacker Jonah Elliss (ribs, shoulder) out for this weekend. Defensive tackle D.J. Jones (shoulder), linebacker Alex Singleton (thumb), and edge rusher Nik Bonitto (wrist) are off of the injury report.
Jets running back Breece Hall is in the fourth and final year of his rookie contract, and there’s been talk for months that he’s due for a new deal. But no deal has come, which has led to talk that he could be traded.
Hall says he does not want that.
“This is my fifth month dealing with this now,” Hall said. “At this point, it is what it is. I’m here. I want to be here. I love being a New York Jet and everything. At the end of the day, I don’t control what goes on, I only control what I do on the field and how I handle my business off the field. So for me it’s all about servicing my teammates and coaches the best way I can, and let God handle whatever else. Every day I come out, like I said, I’m servicing my teammates and coaches, glorifying God, and whatever happens happens after that.”
With the Jets having the worst record in the NFL, it might make sense to trade Hall now for future draft picks, rather than hold onto him and risk losing him in free agency and getting nothing in return. But Hall sounds like he’d prefer to stay where he is — and perhaps sign a second contract with the Jets soon.
Edge rusher Jermaine Johnson will be back in the Jets’ lineup this Sunday.
Johnson has missed the last three games with an ankle injury, but he returned to practice on Thursday and head coach Aaron Glenn said on Friday that Johnson is good to go against the Broncos.
Johnson had 7.5 sacks for the Jets in 2023, but tore his Achilles in Week 2 last season. He returned in time to open the season in the Jets’ starting lineup, but another Week 2 injury knocked him off the field.
Glenn also said that running back/kick returner Kene Nwangnu will play. He suffered a hamstring injury in Week 1.
Cornerback Michael Carter (concussion) and wide receiver Allen Lazard (personal) are the only Jets players ruled out ahead of their bid for the first win of the season.
