Javon Kinlaw has made it through training camp and preseason healthy in what is a potentially huge development for the New York Jets.
Signed by the Jets this offseason as a free agent, the 6-foot-5, 319-pound Kinlaw had 25 total tackles and a career-high 3.5 sacks in 2023 in 17 games with the San Francisco 49ers. He was a first round pick out of South Carolina in the 2020 NFL draft.
This is a potential bounceback season for Kinlaw, who ended each of the 2021 and 2022 seasons on Injured Reserve. He played in every game last year for the 49ers, but piecing together consecutive seasons of regular snaps would be huge for his career.
For head coach Robert Saleh, this has been a good offseason for Kinlaw.
“Knock on wood for him, he’s felt good all of camp,” Saleh told reporters on Saturday.
“He’s taken every single rep. He feels like he’s in a really good place both physically and mentally. And because of the fact that he’s been able to take all these reps, we’ve been able to help him really hone in on his game. When you’re in and out of the lineup, you’re just playing, you’re not locking into a technique or anything. To his credit, he’s found a way to get himself healthy and he’s bought into everything that we preach on the d-line with regards to technique and all that stuff. Really looking forward to seeing what he does this year. I think he has a chance to do something special for himself.”
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As a rookie in 2020, Kinlaw had 33 total tackles and 1.5 sacks (as well as an interception) in 14 games. Similar production alongside Pro Bowl defensive tackle Quinnen Williams would be huge for the Jets.