Williams (hand) is questionable to return to Sunday's contest against the Bills.
Williams suffered an apparent hand injury in the third quarter, and his status for the rest of the game is now in question. In his absence, Mykal Walker is a top candidate to see increased reps at linebacker versus Buffalo.
... See More... See Less
Jets' Brandon Stephens: Ruled out for Week 18
Rotowire
Stephens (neck) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's game against the Bills.
Stephens was a limited participant in Thursday's practice with a new neck injury before downgrading to a non-participant in Friday's session. The cornerback will end his season one game short, logging 73 tackles (47 solo) and nine passes defensed over 16 games. With fellow cornerback Qwan'tez Stiggers (knee) also ruled out, either Keidron Smith or Tre Brown will start at cornerback alongside Jordan Clark for Week 18.
... See More... See Less
Jets' Micheal Clemons: Not playing vs. Buffalo
Rotowire
Clemons (ankle) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Bills.
Clemons was held out of practice all week due to an ankle injury and won't suit up for Sunday's regular-season finale. The fourth-year pro will end the 2025 regular season with 22 tackles (nine solo), including 1.0 sacks, and two pass defenses across 16 games. Eric Watts will serve as the Jets' top rotational defensive end behind Jermaine Johnson and Braiden McGregor in Clemons' absence.
... See More... See Less
Jets' Brandon Stephens: Questionable for Week 18
Rotowire
Stephens (neck) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Bills, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.
Stephens popped up on Thursday's injury report as a limited practice participant due to a neck issue. He was given the questionable tag for Sunday's regular-season finale despite not practicing Friday, and his status may not be officially known until the Jets announce their list of inactive players approximately 90 minutes before the 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff. Qwan'tez Stiggers (knee) has already been ruled out, so Tre Brown and Keidron Smith could be the Jets' two starting outside cornerbacks if Stephens also doesn't play.
... See More... See Less
Jets' Qwan'tez Stiggers: Won't play Sunday
Rotowire
Jets head coach Aaron Glenn said Friday that Stiggers (knee) is ruled out for the team's season finale against the Bills on Sunday.
Stiggers will miss Sunday's season finale due to the knee injury he suffered versus the Patriots in Week 17, bringing his 2025 campaign to an end with 27 tackles (17 solo), three passes defensed and two fumble recoveries across 15 regular-season appearance. The 2024 fifth-round pick will stand to spend the coming offseason competing to earn a role in New York's cornerback rotation for the 2026 campaign.
... See More... See Less
Jets' Brandon Stephens: Working through neck issue
Rotowire
Stephens (neck) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.
The injury appears to be a new issue for Stephens, given that he was not listed on Wednesday's practice report. He dealt with the same issue in mid-October but was ultimately cleared to play against the Broncos in Week 6, so Friday's practice report should shed light on his chances of playing in Sunday's regular-season finale against the Bills. The Jets could be without their top outside corners in Stephens and Qwan'tez Stiggers (knee) in Week 18, which would open the door for Keidron Smith and Tre Brown to take on larger roles in the secondary.
... See More... See Less
Jets' Qwan'tez Stiggers: Misses practice Wednesday
Rotowire
Stiggers (knee) did not practice Wednesday, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.
Stiggers suffered a knee injury this past Sunday against New England and couldn't finish the loss. The extent of the issue isn't clear, but it's certainly not a good sign that he wasn't able to practice in any capacity to begin this week. Should Stiggers be sidelined Sunday against Buffalo, Jordan Clark could absorb most of his cornerback reps.
... See More... See Less
Jets' Quincy Williams: Six tackles in loss
Rotowire
Williams recorded six tackles (five solo) in the Jets' loss to the Patriots on Sunday.
Williams played 96 percent of the defensive snaps against New England and has now logged 80 tackles (42 solo), including 3.5 sacks, and six pass breakups on 91 percent of the defensive snaps across 12 appearances this season.
... See More... See Less
Jets' Malachi Moore: Seven tackles in loss
Rotowire
Moore recorded seven tackles (four solo) and one pass breakup in the Jets' loss to the Patriots on Sunday.
Additionally, Moore caught a three-yard pass on a fake punt against New England. The fourth-round rookie defensive back has logged 91 tackles (53 solo), three pass breakups, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery across 16 appearances this season.
... See More... See Less
Jets' Jamien Sherwood: Seven tackles in blowout loss
Rotowire
Sherwood recorded seven tackles (three solo) in the Jets' 42-10 loss to the Patriots on Sunday.
Sherwood played all 66 defensive snaps against New England, and the fifth-year linebacker now has 147 tackles (68 solo), including 2.0 sacks, and a career-high eight pass breakups across 16 games (15 starts) this season. Sherwood needs 12 tackles in Week 18 against Buffalo to set a new single-season career-high after he recorded 158 tackles last season.
... See More... See Less
Jets' Qwan'tez Stiggers: Exits game with knee injury
Rotowire
Stiggers (knee) is questionable to return to Sunday's game against the Patriots.
Stiggers was helped off the field by medical staff in the second half, and with the Jets facing a large deficit, he may not return to Sunday's game even if he's cleared to do so. Tre Brown, Keidron Smith and Jordan Clark are slated to see more defensive snaps if Stiggers does not return.
... See More... See Less
Jets' Eric Watts: Set to suit up
Rotowire
Watts (concussion) doesn't have an injury designation ahead of Sunday's game against the Patriots.
Watts was a full participant in practice all week, and the avoidance of an injury designation means the defensive end was able to clear the NFL's five-step concussion protocol in time for Sunday's contest. The 25-year-old will retake his role as a rotational edge rusher behind starters Braiden McGregor and Jermaine Johnson.
... See More... See Less
Jets' Jay Tufele: Heading to IR
Rotowire
The Jets placed Tufele (foot) on injured reserve Friday, Susanna Weir of the Jets' official site reports.
Tufele was unable to practice all week after suffering a foot injury in the Jets' Week 16 loss to the Saints. With the move to IR, the 26-year-old will finish the season with 12 tackles (five solo). Jowon Briggs and Khalen Saunders are expected to have expanded roles on the defensive line behind Harrison Phillips with Tufele out.
... See More... See Less
Jets' Francisco Mauigoa: Done for season
Rotowire
The Jets placed Mauigoa (neck) on injured reserve Friday, Susanna Weir of the Jets' official site reports.
Mauigoa suffered a neck injury in Week 14 and hasn't participated in practice since. With the move to IR, the 2025 fifth-round pick will finish with 45 tackles (16 solo) in 12 games played. Mykal Walker is expected to have a larger role with Mauigoa out for the final two games of the season.
... See More... See Less
Jets' Will McDonald: Heading to IR
Rotowire
The Jets placed McDonald (knee) on injured reserve Friday, Susanna Weir of the Jets' official site reports.
McDonald was unable to practice all week after suffering a knee injury in the Jets' Week 16 loss to the Saints. The 26-year-old's move to IR ensures he is done for the season, likely giving Braiden McGregor more reps in McDonald's place. The third-year pro accounted for 30 tackles (19 solo), including 8.0 sacks, in 15 games played.
... See More... See Less
Jets' Harrison Phillips: Set to suit up
Rotowire
Phillips (foot) doesn't have an injury designation ahead of Sunday's game against the Patriots.
Phillips has not missed a game yet this season, participating in all 15 of the Jets' contests in the 2025 campaign. The defensive tackle has played over 60 percent of snaps for six consecutive weeks, a pattern he will likely continue in Sunday's divisional contest. In the Jets' last meeting with the Patriots during Week 11, Phillips logged five tackles (two solo) on 41 defensive snaps.
... See More... See Less
Jets' Will McDonald: Out for Sunday
Rotowire
McDonald (knee) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Patriots.
The Iowa State product likely sustained a knee injury in the Jets' Week 16 loss to the Saints, and he's now in line to miss his first game of the season Sunday. McDonald has been a bright spot on New York's defensive line, tallying 30 total tackles, including 8.0 sacks, through 15 appearances this season. Expect Braiden McGregor and Micheal Clemons to fill in for McDonald on the Jets' defensive line in Week 17.
... See More... See Less
Jets' Francisco Mauigoa: Out for Week 17
Rotowire
Mauigoa (neck) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Patriots.
Mauigoa is now in line to miss his third consecutive game due to a neck injury sustained in the Week 14 loss to the Dolphins. The 2025 fifth-round pick from Miami has had a solid rookie campaign, recording 45 total tackles across 12 appearances. While he remains sidelined Sunday, expect Mykal Walker to have a larger role in the Jets' linebacker corps.
... See More... See Less
Jets' Jay Tufele: Won't play Sunday
Rotowire
Tufele (foot) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Patriots.
The USC product logged consecutive DNPs to begin the Jets' week of practice, so it's no surprise that he won't play in Sunday's divisional matchup. While Tufele is sidelined in Week 17, expect Khalen Saunders and Jowon Briggs to have expanded roles on New York's defensive line.
... See More... See Less
Jets' Chris Smith: Headed to New York
Rotowire
Smith was claimed off waivers by the Jets on Wednesday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Smith was cut loose by the Rams earlier in the week, but he has now found a new home in New York. The safety will operate as a top reserve option behind Malachi Moore against the Patriots on Sunday.
