When the Jets face the Dolphins on Sunday, two of their stars — working again Brice Corridor and cornerback Sauce Gardner — probably will not play.
They will want “one thing magical to occur” to beat knee and hamstring accidents, respectively, and “questionable” assignments in time, interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich mentioned.
The Jets have loads of expertise to depend on to switch Gardner, with Brandin Echols positioned to start out alongside DJ Reid.
Echols additionally collected two picks towards Miami linebacker Tua Tagovailoa in previous conferences. That does not make the problem of changing an All-Professional cornerback any simpler, however the choice carries a tinge of familiarity.
Gang Inexperienced’s choices to switch Corridor, nonetheless, revolve round youth. About two working backs with 24 mixed video games and one other with 38 profession snaps however simply 88 dashing yards.
Nonetheless, in 60 minutes at Onerous Rock Stadium, rookies Braylon Allen and Isaiah Davis seem poised to take the majority of the handoffs, as Kene Nwangwu — whose Jets debut included a 99-yard return for a landing Sunday — can also be out there.
“It is undoubtedly what you need,” Allen informed The Put up of the possibility for him and Davis. “Clearly you don’t need it that method when somebody in your place cannot play due to damage, however a chance is a chance.”
Ulbrich anticipated the backup working backs to nonetheless “handle the job” even with out Corridor, who hasn’t practiced all week.
There was “just a little MCL, just a little hyperextension” associated to his damage, Ulbrich mentioned, and the third-year working again — who has 692 dashing yards and 4 touchdowns this season, which he known as “probably the most making an attempt 12 months” of his life — wasn’t feeling good. He additionally tore the ACL in the identical left knee as a rookie in 2022.
Since returning final season, Corridor hasn’t missed a sport.
There have been occasions this 12 months when Allen, a fourth-round choose, had a number of carries taken away from him and a second Sunday when Davis — the Jets’ fifth-round choose in April — scored his first profession landing, however towards Miami, they will have a uncommon likelihood to deal with many of the delivery.
It isn’t as clear a choice as bringing in Echols for Gardner, who additionally hasn’t practiced all week.
However as a shedding season rolls by, because the losses pile up, because the imaginative and prescient shifts from the current, the Jets’ lineup may assist present perception into how Allen and Davis may match into their long-term plan behind Corridor.
“It is simply a chance to point out what we will do,” Davis informed The Put up. “I really feel like our again room, there ought to be no drop off. So no matter occurs with Brees on Sunday, no matter choice he makes, the working backs simply should go and show that the following participant is simply nearly as good — if not higher.”
WR Allen Lazard (chest) and OL Wes Schweitzer (finger) can be activated from injured reserve and can play Sunday. … Offensive linemen Alijah Vera-Tucker (ankle), Olu Fashanu (toe), Morgan Moses (knee/shoulder) and Xavier Newman (groin) have been listed as questionable after being restricted members Friday, whereas Qwan’tez Stiggers (illness) completed tied for a “uncertain” designation after full train. … OL John Simpson (sickness), who didn’t follow Thursday, participated totally Friday and didn’t enter the weekend with an damage designation.
