D’Angelo Ponds came into the summer with real buzz, the kind that doesn’t usually follow a second-round cornerback. A few months later, that momentum has taken a hit, and the reason is simple: a calf injury has kept him out of nearly all of training camp and sidelined him for last Friday’s preseason-opening loss to the Buccaneers.
There is still no sign that the Jets are preparing to stash him on injured reserve, but the pause has changed the conversation. Bleacher Report now has Ponds at No. 46 among rookies entering the season, which is a drop from the No. 27 spot he held before the draft.
He was taken No. 50 overall in April, so even that lower ranking can be read as a small win. Still, it’s a steep fall from the first-round-type buzz he had just months ago.
Bleacher Report’s scouting department still sees the traits that made him such an appealing prospect. “He’s the type of competitive, athletic, and playmaking cornerback that coaches want in their secondary,” Bleacher Report’s NFL scouting department wrote. “While there are size and length concerns, those won’t stop him from earning a role in the NFL.”
For now, though, the Jets are waiting. As of Monday morning, the team had not announced a timetable for Ponds to return to practice, and it already looks unlikely that he’ll be available Friday night against the Steelers.
The hope is that he can get back to full strength by mid-September at the latest, with Week 1 against Robert Saleh and the Titans set for Sept. 13.
That gives Ponds less than 30 days to get back on the field, handle the pace of camp, and quiet any questions about whether he can be ready for Tennessee.
The injury hasn’t erased the reasons for optimism. Ponds drew strong reviews during the pre-draft process and in offseason workouts, and Glenn has been open about how much he likes the All-American cornerback.
The broader rookie class has also been hit by injuries. Ponds and tight end Kenyon Sadiq, who is dealing with a sports hernia, are both sidelined. Even so, Glenn and Darren Mougey have had some bright spots to lean on, with edge rusher and No. 2 pick David Bailey standing out as arguably the best player in camp and sixth-round guard Anez Cooper dominating against the Buccaneers.
Ponds’ eventual return would matter all the more because Brandon Stephens has had a rough summer. The 28-year-old corner started camp well, but his play has slipped since then, including in the loss to the Buccaneers.
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