The Jets are dealing with a couple of injuries in the secondary heading into Week 5. Head coach Robert Saleh provided updates Wednesday.
Cornerback Brandin Echols has a hamstring injury and he will not play Sunday against the Denver Broncos. He may even miss multiple weeks. It’s possible he also misses Week 6 against the Philadelphia Eagles with the bye week coming in Week 7 to give him extra rest.
In addition, cornerback D.J. Reed is in the concussion protocol. There is a good chance Reed will also miss Sunday’s game in Denver. No player has suffered a concussion and then played the following week since Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett last season in Week 7.
Some background on concussions: No player in the league has played this season the week after sustaining a concussion. The last time it happened was last year, when Steelers QB Kenny Pickett got a concussion in Week 6 and played in Week 7. https://t.co/2yMap7ASxt
— Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) October 4, 2023
If Reed and Echols can’t go, the Jets would have an interesting decision to make at the position. Will they start Bryce Hall? Will they pull from elsewhere?
The Jets worked out corners Wednesday including nine-year veteran Terrance Mitchell. The 31-year-old played in 11 games last season for the Tennessee Titans, recording 39 tackles and an interception. It’s possible the Jets add him to the practice squad. New York also brought back cornerback Craig James to the practice squad on Tuesday and also added corners Tae Hayes and Kalon Barnes.
The Jets are also adding secondary depth in the form of sixth-round pick Jarrick Bernard-Converse. The Jets activated the 21-day practice window for both him and fourth-round rookie offensive tackle Carter Warren.
The #Jets activated the practice window for rookies DB Jarrick Bernard-Converse (PUP) and OT Carter Warren (IR).
— Zack Rosenblatt (@ZackBlatt) October 4, 2023
Bernard-Converse was on the Physically Unable to Perform list while Warren spent the first four weeks of the season on injured reserve.