The New York Jets got a scare in Saturday’s padded training camp practice when rookie pass rusher David Bailey limped off the field, but the team’s second-overall pick ended up being fine. The more serious setback came on the back end, where rookie safety VJ Payne is expected to miss three to four weeks with a bone bruise.
Bailey’s exit briefly raised alarms during practice. He appeared to be dealing with a left ankle issue after going down, but he later returned and looked okay. After practice, head coach Aaron Glenn said Bailey will be fine and that he was only jogging off the injury on the side.
The injury note on Payne carries a much bigger impact. Glenn said the seventh-round safety will be “fine,” but the three-to-four-week timeline likely wipes out all three of the Jets’ preseason games. Payne is trying to work his way into a crowded safety room, and this setback makes that climb even steeper.
At the moment, Payne was already looking up the depth chart at Minkah Fitzpatrick, Malachi Moore, Dane Belton, and Andre Cisco. He also has to find a way onto the field through special teams, where the Jets were the highest-ranked unit in the NFL last season, according to DVOA.
Bailey’s camp, meanwhile, has been one of the brighter stories in Florham Park. Daily reports have described him beating blockers for sacks, and there have also been encouraging signs about his discipline and fundamentals against the run. That part of his game has been inconsistent at times, but the flashes have been enough to fuel optimism about where he’s headed.
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Now Payne is dealing with a bone bruise suffered in practice, and the timing makes the roster battle a lot less straightforward. Missing the next few weeks leaves the Jets with a decision to make on a player they like for the future, even if the immediate path can still be managed in a few different ways before final cuts arrive. [Read more 🡒]