Isaiah Williams has become one of the best surprises in New York’s early season, and the Jets have needed every bit of it.
At 2-3, the Jets have not exactly stacked up wins, but they have been a lot more competitive than they were in previous seasons. Week after week, they have stayed in games long enough to have a real shot at taking control or finishing them off. That kind of fight has made it clear that something is taking shape under head coach Aaron Glenn.
A big reason for that has been the defense, which has done plenty of heavy lifting. New York wants its identity to be built on that side of the ball, and so far, that approach has given the team a real boost.
The offense, though, has done its part too. Geno Smith has played at a high level, and that matters after the offseason trade brought him in with plenty of questions attached. Last year, he was a turnover machine, but this season he has mostly protected the ball and gotten it out quickly to his receivers.
Garrett Wilson remains the lead option in the passing game, and he has delivered. But Williams has given the Jets something they badly needed: another receiver who can change what the offense looks like.
Williams has 11 catches for 151 yards and one touchdown, and his role has started to grow. He is not officially the No. 2 receiver yet, but that door is clearly open if this continues. The former undrafted free agent has given New York the kind of production it had been waiting for from someone beyond Wilson.
His speed has made a difference, giving Smith a target who can find space and create opportunities down the field. And with Williams stretching things out, the Jets have a chance to get more creative with the playbook.
In Other News...
Jon Gruden Just Validated What Jets Fans Hoped About This Defense
Jon Grudens breakdown of the Jets Week 5 defense against Cleveland offered a little outside validation for what the team has been trying to build. He pointed to the way New York mixed and matched its pass-rush looks, leaning into pressure and coverage wrinkles that gave the Browns trouble, and the tape backed up the sense that this group can be more than just physical up front. David Bailey was the headliner, finishing with three sacks and earning Defensive Player of the Week, a solid sign that the Jets may have found a real disruptive edge on that side of the ball.
The challenge now is whether they can keep that same rhythm intact with the next opponent looming. Injuries are already testing the depth of the pass rush, and the Patriots are the kind of divisional matchup that can expose any weakness if the front seven isnt at full strength. For a Jets defense that finally drew a national nod for its creativity and impact, the bigger question is whether the pressure package can keep humming once the rotation gets thinner. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Just Got One More Problem For This Patriots Matchup
The Patriots are about to get a little more dangerous at exactly the wrong time for the Jets. A.J. Brown is expected to be back in the lineup for Week 6 after opening the year on injured reserve, giving New England another weapon as it heads into a matchup that already carried plenty of weight for both sides.
Browns return comes after the Patriots managed to sharpen their offense in recent games without him, which only raises the intrigue around how theyll look with another key piece available. For a Jets defense trying to sort through a divisional test, the prospect of facing a healthier New England attack adds one more layer to a game that already had no shortage of pressure attached. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Finally Have Two Weapons Back For A Tough Patriots Test
The Jets will finally get a little more help at receiver when they face the Patriots, with Aaron Glenn confirming that Kenyon Sadiq and Omar Cooper Jr. are both available. Coopers return is especially notable because it gives New York another option after a stretch in which he has been sidelined, while Sadiq has been a steadier presence, showing up in every game even if he has not always made it through cleanly.
For an offense trying to find more consistency, having both players back in the mix matters against a New England defense that rarely makes things easy. Glenns update gives the Jets a chance to spread the field a bit more and see how those two fit into the game plan, with the next question being how much they can handle once the ball starts moving. [Read more 🡒]