The New York Jets could be getting a needed boost up front, and it comes at a time when the defensive line has been stretched thin.
That group has been a problem all season, with poor play and injuries both dragging it down. T’Vondre Sweat and David Onyemata have each missed time because of physical issues, and Sweat’s absence has hit the hardest.
He is now on injured reserve with a knee injury, and the Jets’ run defense has looked completely different without him. For Aaron Glenn’s defense, getting him back as soon as possible is the obvious priority.
Onyemata may not be far behind. The Athletic’s Zack Rosenblatt reported Friday that the veteran defensive tackle returned to the practice field for the first time since getting hurt.
Onyemata suffered a groin injury in Week 2 against the Green Bay Packers and later had core muscle surgery to repair it. There had been hope he could make it back before the season ended, and that now appears to be in play.
Before the injury, Onyemata looked set for a meaningful role after being added this offseason to strengthen a thin interior line. He played 44% of the Jets’ defensive snaps in his first two games, and while he is not known primarily as a run-stopper, his interior pass rush was supposed to give a defense that has struggled to pressure quarterbacks a real lift.
The numbers back that up. Onyemata’s pass-rush grade of 70.3 from Pro Football Focus stands out as something New York has badly missed over the last six games, even though he did not play enough snaps to qualify for a broader peer ranking.
His return would also come at a time when Harrison Phillips and Jowon Briggs have taken significant steps back in 2026. Both have been asked to handle more work without Onyemata and Sweat around them, and that extra load has not helped.
Another ripple effect could be felt in the playing time for rookie Darrell Jackson Jr. The Florida State standout has been one of the more surprising players to emerge from Darren Mougey’s 2026 NFL Draft class, and the Jets need him to keep getting on the field.
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