The Jets may have caught a break at just the right time.
New York heads into Week 4 sitting at 1-2 after a win over the Tennessee Titans and back-to-back losses to the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions. Now comes a third straight matchup against a playoff contender, with the Jets traveling to Soldier Field to face the Chicago Bears.
The good news for New York is that Chicago is likely to be without Caleb Williams. The Bears’ franchise quarterback suffered a Grade 2 hamstring strain in Week 2 against the Minnesota Vikings and is expected to miss three to four weeks, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
That would be a major development for the Jets, who would avoid dealing with Williams’ playmaking ability in a game they already need to handle carefully.
Williams was carted off the field in Week 2 with a towel over his head, a moment that drew heavy mockery on social media. But the injury turned out to be more serious than it first appeared, and he is definitely out for Chicago’s Week 3 game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
There is still a slim chance he could be available for Week 4. Team doctors, though, have made clear that the injury typically requires three to four weeks of recovery.
"This doesn't mean that Williams, whom the Bears have touted as a quick healer, couldn't return sooner than that timeline. It just means that doctors believe this type of injury normally takes three to four weeks of recovery and that is the doctors' best estimation of how long it could take Williams to recover."
Chicago held the news close until Sunday, so it would not be surprising if the Bears keep the Jets guessing as long as they can.
If Williams can’t go, the quarterback job will fall to Tyson Bagent or veteran Case Keenum. Bagent is listed as the backup behind Williams, but he is currently sidelined by a concussion for the Eagles game.
If Bagent clears concussion protocol this week, he would likely get the start against New York. If not, Keenum would be the next man up. Either way, the Jets may be looking at a Monday night matchup without the Bears’ starter, and that changes the feel of the game immediately.
In Other News...
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The Jets were already scrambling in Week 3 against the Lions without several key starters, and the injury list only grew from there. One of the biggest concerns came when Breece Hall went out with a thigh injury, forcing New York to adjust on the fly in a game where depth was already being tested.
Hall sounded unsure afterward about just how serious the issue might be, which is where the real concern starts for the Jets. Braelon Allen handled the lead-back role once Hall exited, but for a team trying to piece together its offense through injuries, any uncertainty around Hall carries obvious weight going forward. [Read more 🡒]
Dan Campbell Just Gave Jets Fans A Reason To Reconsider Aaron Glenn
Aaron Glenns first season has come with plenty of scrutiny, especially when late-game decisions and clock management have left Jets fans grumbling. But after a tight loss to the Lions, Dan Campbell offered a different perspective on the coachs work, praising Glenn publicly and crediting him for how hard the Jets made the game. For a team that has spent much of the year fighting through injuries and a difficult schedule, it was another sign that the performance level has been trending in a better direction even when the results have not always followed.
Campbells endorsement carries some weight because of his history with Glenn, and it arrives at a time when the Jets are still sorting out what their present and future should look like under him. There has been visible progress from a roster that leaned on contributions from Geno Smith, Kenyon Sadiq and Garrett Wilson to stay competitive against a strong opponent, even if the final score again left room for frustration. The broader question now is whether the improvement around Glenn is enough to quiet the criticism, or whether the conversation around him will keep coming back to the same lingering issues. [Read more 🡒]
Aaron Glenn Just Gave Jets Fans Their Most Encouraging Sign Yet
The Jets left Detroit with a loss, but there were clear signs of a team starting to look more organized under Aaron Glenn. Against a Lions squad that can overwhelm opponents, New York stayed competitive throughout a 31-24 defeat in Week 3, and the little details were better too. Situational awareness and clock management, both areas that have hurt this group before, were noticeably sharper even as the roster dealt with injuries and a talent gap.
Geno Smiths afternoon also offered a real reason for optimism. He completed 31 of 37 passes for 320 yards and three touchdowns, giving the Jets the kind of efficient, productive quarterback play that can keep them in games if the rest of the operation continues to clean itself up. For a team still trying to establish Glenns standard, the result was disappointing, but the process looked more like progress than setback. [Read more 🡒]