The New York Jets are heading into a pivotal Week 14 clash against the Miami Dolphins, and they’ll be doing it without two key defensive contributors. Head coach Aaron Glenn confirmed that starting cornerback Jarvis Brownlee Jr. and linebacker/special teams captain Marcelino McCrary-Ball have both been ruled out for Sunday’s matchup.
Let’s start with Brownlee. The second-year corner has been dealing with a nagging hip injury that already kept him sidelined during the Jets’ win over the Falcons.
And while his season’s had its ups and downs - including tough outings against Cleveland and New England - Brownlee bounced back in a big way in Week 11 against a high-powered Ravens offense. In that game, he allowed just two catches on three targets for a mere 18 yards, holding opposing quarterbacks to an 82.6 passer rating when throwing his way.
He also chipped in four tackles and three defensive stops, showcasing the kind of physical, downhill play the Jets have come to expect from him in the slot.
With Brownlee out again, the next man up is Ja’Sir Taylor, who’s expected to handle slot duties for a second straight week. But Taylor’s most recent performance left plenty of room for improvement.
Against Atlanta, he earned a 51.0 defensive grade from Pro Football Focus - a number that reflects what we saw on the field. His most glaring moment came in the fourth quarter, when he missed a tackle at the line of scrimmage on tight end David Sills V.
That mistake turned into a momentum-shifting touchdown that gave the Falcons a 24-17 lead with under nine minutes to play.
As for McCrary-Ball, his absence is another tough blow - especially on special teams. The veteran linebacker had just returned from a 10-week layoff due to a hamstring injury and was starting to regain form.
In limited action against Atlanta, he posted a solid 79.0 run-defense grade and a respectable 67.5 on special teams, per PFF. His leadership and versatility have been valuable assets for a Jets team that leans heavily on depth and effort in all three phases.
In McCrary-Ball’s absence, the Jets may turn to rookie linebacker Cam Jones, who had his 21-day practice window opened this week as he works his way back from a hip injury. Jones could be in line to take over McCrary-Ball’s special teams snaps and potentially rotate in on defense. It’s a big ask for a young player returning from injury, but the Jets have shown a willingness to trust their depth when the situation calls for it.
All of this comes as the Jets prepare for a rematch with a Dolphins team that lit up their secondary in the first meeting. With Tua Tagovailoa playing sharp football and Miami’s offense firing on all cylinders, being down a starting corner like Brownlee only adds to the challenge. The Jets will need a cleaner, more disciplined showing from their secondary - especially from players like Taylor - if they hope to slow down a Dolphins attack that can punish even the smallest mistakes.
Injuries are part of the game, but timing is everything. And for a Jets team still fighting to stay relevant in the playoff conversation, losing two key defenders just days before facing one of the league’s most explosive offenses is a gut check. Let’s see how they respond.