Jarvis Brownlee entered Jets camp with some goodwill from last season’s trade, but that cushion is starting to disappear fast.
What’s gone wrong is simple enough: Brownlee has not held up well in practice, and the latest sign came in a matchup with rookie receiver Omar Cooper Jr. Cooper, who is battling Isaiah Williams for the No. 3 wideout job, reportedly looked so good against Brownlee in one-on-ones that he was called "unguardable." Nick Faria also reported that Cooper "made the veteran cornerback look foolish" on multiple would-be deep shots.
That kind of day matters because the Jets’ secondary is beginning to sort itself out, and Brownlee keeps ending up on the wrong side of that picture. He came to New York last season in a trade that looked worthwhile even without the wins, giving the defense a needed jolt. Now, though, his path to meaningful snaps looks narrower by the day.
The cornerback room is crowded, and Brownlee is losing ground in it. Brandon Stephens, Azareye'h Thomas, and Nahshon Wright all appear to have roster spots secured, and all three are on the outside.
Even in the slot, Brownlee may not be climbing very high. Rookie D'Angelo Ponds, once healthy, is expected to be the favorite for nickel work ahead of him.
There’s also the Minkah Fitzpatrick factor. Officially a safety, Fitzpatrick is expected to handle plenty of nickel snaps after new defensive coordinator Brian Duker helped him settle into that role in Miami last season. With that in play, Brownlee could be squeezed into a limited role as a dime cornerback used in specific packages, assuming he’s even on the field much.
That’s a sharp turn for a player who started hot with the Jets. But his coverage risks, combined with a lack of turnovers to balance them out, have helped push the team toward adding more bodies in the secondary rather than simply handing Brownlee the job.
He’s only in his third season, and the Jets gave up assets to get him. Still, they never built their future around him. In a summer where several new Jets additions have already made their presence felt, Brownlee is trending the other way - and this latest practice showing only adds to the concern.
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