New York, Dec. 24 (BUS): Safety has been an unusually unsafe situation for the New York Jets’ short-range jet this season, according to the Associated Press.
Veterans, rookies and players coming from other teams – or even from the street – have offered a revolving door to defensive backs in an effort to shore up the back end of coordinator Jeff Olbrich’s defense due to injuries and illnesses.
As of Thursday night, the Jets had only two health lockers on their active roster: Will Parks, who was claimed waivers from Miami on Monday, and Kai Nakoa, who was signed from the San Francisco coaching team on Thursday. Elijah Benton is also on the coaching staff. The Gates hosts Jacksonville on Sunday.
Ulbrich said Pinnock’s move from back-corner to safety-free, wasn’t necessarily a matter of him not producing in situ.
So how did the planes get into such a difficult situation?
Well, things are starting promising into the season with safety veteran Marcus May and LaMarcus Joyner supporting a young and inexperienced group in the back corner.
But Joyner tore his triceps muscle in the opening game and underwent surgery, ending his season.
May, a captain and senior player, missed two games with an ankle injury, then ruptured his Achilles tendon in Week 9. His season ended after six games.
With Joyner and May sidelined, Ashten Davis (nine games), Elijah Reilly (five), Adrian Colbert (three), Jarrod Wilson (three) and Sharrod Nesman (one) all took turns starting at safety.
Davis and Nessman are on the COVID-19 list and likely won’t be available on Sunday. Riley did not train this week while going through a concussion protocol after he was taken off the field in Miami last Sunday.
Colbert and Wilson are long gone after giving up early in the season. So do Natril Jamerson and Sheldrake Redwin, who had short stints with the team.
The Jets have two junior players converted to college coffers at Hamsah Nasirildeen and Jamien Sherwood, but neither are available to play. Nasir al-Din is also on the COVID-19 list and Sherwood’s season finale IR with a ruptured Achilles tendon.
So Ulbrich and his crew, including defender Marquand Manuel and assistant defense Chip Vaughn, have spent the past few days trying to get the new players up to speed.
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