The Jets head into Week 8 against the Raiders with the injury picture still looking ugly, and Breece Hall’s status remains one of the biggest questions hanging over the day.
Hall is listed as questionable for the second straight week with a quad injury, though reports say he is not expected to play. He was limited throughout the week and never got to full participation.
On the other side of the ball, left guard Dylan Parham is also questionable with a knee issue, but he finished with a full practice on Friday and appears to be trending toward playing. If he can’t go, Jordan Meredith would start at left guard against his former team.
New York’s inactive list got even thinner on Saturday when the team placed defensive tackle T'Vondre Sweat on injured reserve because of a knee injury. Rookie edge rusher David Bailey is doubtful with a groin injury after not practicing this week, while outside linebacker Joseph Ossai has been ruled out again with an ankle injury. Backup offensive tackle Max Mitchell is also out because of a concussion.
The Raiders have their own absences to manage. Defensive end Patrick Johnson was ruled out and placed on IR this weekend with a stinger, and backup tight end Carter Runyon is out as well with a foot injury.
Wide receiver Jack Bech, who was activated from injured reserve this weekend, is questionable with a forearm injury but is expected to return today. Backup offensive guard Jackson Powers-Johnson is questionable with a back injury after showing up on the report Thursday, and Las Vegas is expected to start rookie Trey Zuhn at right guard for the first time.
With the official inactive lists set for both teams, the Jets and Raiders are both walking into Week 8 short-handed.
In Other News...
Jets Passing Debate Now Centers On One Garrett Wilson Question
Garrett Wilsons frustration with his role in the passing game has become part of the conversation around the Jets offense, and offensive coordinator Frank Reich is not trying to smooth it over. Reich described the receivers desire for more targets as healthy tension while defending a plan that spreads the ball around instead of locking onto one option, even as Wilson has remained the teams most productive pass catcher this season with 37 receptions for 444 yards and two touchdowns.
The latest flashpoint came in the recent game against Miami, where the Jets again tried to balance getting Wilson involved with keeping the rest of the passing game active. Reich pointed to how attention on Wilson can create chances elsewhere, including for Omar Cooper Jr., but the larger issue remains the same for a team that has struggled to win games: finding an offense that keeps its top receiver engaged without making the attack too predictable. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Lose T'Vondre Sweat And Now Face A Tough Timeline
The Jets have lost another piece in the middle of their defense, placing defensive tackle TVondre Sweat on injured reserve and forcing him out for at least the next four games. Sweat had become a steady presence in the rotation, appearing in seven games and contributing 17 combined tackles along with two tackles for loss before the setback.
For a defense built around controlling the line of scrimmage, the timing is less than ideal, and it leaves the Jets with a short-term hole to patch in Aaron Glenns 3-4 front. The club still believes Sweat can be back later this season, but the immediate challenge is finding enough stability inside while he works his way toward a return. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Just Sent A Clear Message In The Will McDonald Debate
Will McDonald IV has become one of the more interesting names on the Jets roster as the season has worn on, and not just because of his play. According to Sports Illustrateds Albert Breer, there has been significant trade interest in the edge rusher, a sign that other teams still see value in a player whose production has not matched the expectation around him this year.
For the Jets, though, the message has been clear. They have not moved him, and with his fifth-year option already exercised, McDonald remains under team control through 2027. Even with the numbers not jumping off the page, New York appears intent on riding out the rest of the season with him in the mix rather than turning a draft pick into a short-term fix. [Read more 🡒]