Jets Secondary Gets Needed Boost As New Injury Concern Emerges

Jets gear up for a crucial showdown against the Packers with key starters returning to the lineup, while navigating a mixed bag of injury updates.

The Jets got a little healthier on Thursday as they kept building toward their Week 2 meeting with the Green Bay Packers, with two starters moving all the way back to full practice after being limited a day earlier.

Linebacker Jamien Sherwood and cornerback D’Angelo Ponds both upgraded to full participation. Ponds, who sat out the season opener, is now on track to make his NFL debut after missing most of training camp and the entire preseason with a calf injury.

Here’s how the rest of the injury report shook out:

WR Omar Cooper Jr. (ankle): DNP

S Minkah Fitzpatrick (groin): DNP

RB Kene Nwangwu (back): DNP

EDGE Joseph Ossai (foot): DNP

EDGE Will McDonald (ankle): Limited

DL David Onyemata (vet rest): Full

CB D’Angelo Ponds (calf): Full

LB Jamien Sherwood (knee): Full

CB Jarvis Brownlee Jr. (shoulder): Full

Ponds was a second-round pick and is expected to be the Jets’ starting slot corner once he’s fully healthy. For now, though, the team doesn’t need to force the issue. Jarvis Brownlee Jr. has played well enough in Ponds’ spot to give New York some flexibility.

Omar Cooper Jr. and Minkah Fitzpatrick both remained out, which was expected. The Jets are treating both on a week-to-week basis after they left early in Week 1.

Joseph Ossai also looks likely to miss a second straight game to open the season, and Kene Nwangwu seems headed in the same direction.

The most notable surprise was McDonald, who showed up on the report with an ankle injury after not appearing there Wednesday. He was limited Thursday after playing 50% of New York’s defensive snaps in the opener and finishing with a sack.

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