New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner has been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles due to a concussion, according to an announcement by the team on Saturday. This is a significant blow for the Jets, who are already without their other starting cornerback, D.J. Reed, also due to a concussion.
Gardner, who was previously listed as questionable on the injury report with an illness, is an elite cornerback who rarely gets beat. He was an All-Pro and the Defensive Rookie of the Year last season, and his absence will be sorely felt by the Jets defense.
The timing of this injury couldn’t be worse for the Jets, as they are set to face talented wide receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith in their upcoming game. Without their two best corners, the Jets will have to find a way to contain these explosive playmakers.
So, who will fill in for Gardner? The Jets have two options:
1. Start Bryce Hall and Craig James as the outside corners and keep Michael Carter II in the nickel position.
2. Start Hall, move Carter to the outside, and play a safety like Tony Adams in the nickel.
Neither option is particularly appealing. Hall played well against the Broncos last week but has limited playing time in the past two seasons. James is currently on the practice squad and hasn’t started a game since 2019, ironically with the Eagles. However, James did have a big moment that year, tipping an Aaron Rodgers pass for a game-ending interception.
Moving Carter to the outside is also not ideal, as it’s not his natural position and it would weaken the Jets’ defense in the nickel package. The Jets will have to make a tough decision between playing James significant snaps or putting Carter on the outside.
One positive aspect is that Gardner is expected to miss only this week’s game due to the Jets’ upcoming bye week. This gives him additional time to recover and return to the field at full strength.
Gardner, a first-round pick for the Jets in 2022, has been a standout player for the team. In five games this season, he has recorded 20 tackles. Throughout his 22-game career with the Jets, he has accumulated 95 total tackles, including 64 solo tackles, and has defended 23 passes.
In conclusion, the absence of Sauce Gardner due to a concussion is a significant setback for the New York Jets. With their other starting cornerback also out, the Jets will have to rely on their depth and make adjustments to their defensive lineup. It will be a challenging task to contain the talented wide receivers they will face in the upcoming game against the Philadelphia Eagles. However, with Gardner expected to return after the bye week, there is hope that the Jets’ defense will regain its strength and continue to compete in the AFC East.