The New York Jets defense has held up to the hype that surrounded them in the preseason. The unit was expected to be elite especially with Todd Bowles taking over as head coach. Injuries and suspensions were expected to derail things, but so far the front seven and secondary are proving to be a nightmare for opponents. Things are about to get even better for the Jets as Sheldon Richardson returns to the rotation.
Richardson was suspended for four games prior to the start of the season. That has proven to not be an issue for the Jets so far as Muhammad Wilkerson, Leonard Williams and Damon Harrison have been working well together. Now with Richardson in the mix, someone must start to rotate out, but Bowles told the media he is not concerned about the rotation as the Jets enter a bye week.
"[Richardson] gives us an extra weapon, extra depth down there," Bowles said, via ESPN.com. "To me, he is a Pro Bowl player, he's a heckuva player. Get him back in football shape and get him in the rotation and keep moving forward. You don't have a challenge finding places for good players to play. You just play him."
For the short-term, Richardson could start over Williams after the rookie suffered an ankle injury. It is unclear just how long the issue will linger considering the Jets are off this week and the defensive end will have plenty of time to heal. However, if he is still hurt, Richardson could take his place while Bowles figures things out.
Injuries will be a factor in whether or not the Jets can actually capitalize off early-season success. The team is starting to get players back into the mix. Second-round draft pick Devin Smith is expected to get more responsibility after the bye after he sat out the start of the season with a rib injury. Geno Smith is healthy and ready to play when Ryan Fitzpatrick struggles. Dee Milliner will be back in another week, but likely will not play.
The biggest player the Jets must keep healthy is Chris Ivory who has been the biggest x-factor to the team's offense. Ivory has been dealing with a groin injury, but it is certainly not showing as he put up a career-high 166 yards and a touchdown against the Miami Dolphins. Ivory has been the workhorse for the Jets and is getting beat up in the process. Bowles recognized that it will be important to work in Bilal Powell and Zac Stacy to give Ivory rest.
"It is a long haul," Bowles said, via ESPN.com. "After this we got 12 straight. We are going to monitor to make sure that he is getting his work in but we are still giving some breaks in between here and there. We know he is a bell cow and everything else but we still got two other guys that can run the ball."
