Jets vs. Ravens: Gang Green’s injuries, Lamar Jackson’s ascension among pregame storylines

Jets Wire breaks down Gang Green’s Week 15 matchup with the Ravens by taking a look at four pregame storylines to keep an eye on.

The Jets have won four their last five games, but they haven’t played anyone as good as the 11-2 Ravens. That will change Thursday night in Baltimore.

With a win, the Ravens would clinch the AFC North and hold firm position of the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoff race. The Jets are banged up and will most likely be shorthanded. However, their run defense may present a problem for Lamar Jackson and company, although Jackson is nursing an injury himself.

What should Jets fans be aware of before Gang Green takes the field this weekend? Let’s take a look at some pregame storylines to keep an eye on.

Lamar Jackson vs. Jets Run Defense

(Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports)

Lamar Jackon has set the NFL ablaze with his creative play in 2019.

A star in the making, Jackson is only 23 yards short of setting the single-season record for rushing yards by a quarterback. Michael Vick set the record at 1,039 yards back in 2006. Baltimore is averaging 200.9 yards per game on the ground.

The Jets, however, boast the league’s No. 2 rushing defense led by Steve McLendon, Foley Fatukasi, Kyle Phillips, Nathan Shepherd and Quinnen Williams. The Jets allow 75.6 yards rushing per outing. New York dropped from No. 1 to No. 2 in total rushing defense after giving up 122 yards to Miami last Sunday, but the Jets are allowing a league-low 3.03 yards per carry.

With the Jets defense and Jackson banged up, it will be interesting to see who has the edge on the ground.

Santa becomes latest victim of Jets’ injury bug

The holiday spirit couldn’t stop Santa from escaping the Jets’ injury woes.

The Jets have been plagued with a horde of injuries this season, thinning them out at just about every position at one point or another.

The pain hasn’t stopped with the players, though. Even jolly Saint Nick seems to have been bitten by the injury bug that’s been buzzing around New York.

We know this because The Athletic’s Connor Hughes noticed an inflatable Santa Claus slumped over a trash can in the Jets’ locker room on Wednesday. After discovering a hole in the holiday decoration, Hughes couldn’t help but jokingly connect the scene to Gang Green’s injury woes.

The Jets have placed 15 players on injured reserve since August, including household names such as C.J. Mosely, Ryan Kalil, Quincy Enunwa and Avery Williamson.

The bad news doesn’t end there, either.

New York released an injury report on Dec. 4 that listed 13 players currently fighting ailments and other setbacks. That list included safety Jamal Adams, offensive lineman Kelvin Beachum and tight end Ryan Griffin.

Not that it would do them any good this season, but the Jets may want to ask for a clean bill of health this Christmas. They just shouldn’t count on the Santa in their locker room to be the one delivering the elusive gift.

Jets hope to have C.J. Mosley back in April

C.J. Mosley will have surgery sooner than later on his injured groin and while Adam Gase evaded giving a timetable, spring OTAs seem likely.

C.J. Mosley is having season-ending surgery sooner than later on his injured groin, according to Adam Gase.

Mosley injured his groin in the Jets’ season opener against the Bills and returned prematurely in Week 7 against the Patriots. He reaggravated his injury and, despite an attempt to return, was placed on injured reserve on Tuesday.

The hope is that Mosley will be back for the Jets’ offseason program in April. Gase could not pinpoint a timetable for Mosley’s return but seemed rather optimistic that he would return in the spring.

The Jets signed Mosley to an $85 million deal in free agency, hoping he could be the team’s centerpiece on defense. Suffice to say, the first year of that contract didn’t go as planned. Mosley only appeared in two games with Gang Green.

It’s too early to give a verdict on the Molsey signing, but the Jets seem optimistic that they can get the heart and center of their defense back healthy for their spring offseason program. If that doesn’t come to fruition, though, it wouldn’t be the first time they got Mosley’s recovery wrong.

Jets place C.J. Mosley on IR, add DB Bennett Jackson

The Jets effectively ended C.J. Mosley’s disappointing first season in green and white. He will undergo season-ending groin surgery.

After not being able to finish out the only two games he started this season, the Jets have placed linebacker C.J. Mosley on season-ending injured reserve.

Mosley injured his groin in the Jets’ season opener against the Bills and returned prematurely in Week 7 against the Patriots. He reaggravated his injury in the Jets’ 33-0 loss and did not see any the field again despite inclinations that he may return.

Mosley attempted to hold off surgery but was unable to avoid it. He will undergo season-ending surgery, as the Jets are no longer in the playoff picture following their loss in Cincinnati.

The Jets gave the former Ravens star a five-year, $85 million deal that included $51 million guaranteed in free agency.

He finished th eyear with just nine tackles, one fumble recovery, one quarterback hit, two passes defended and a pick-six in 108 snaps over two games.

To replace Mosley on the active roster, the Jets brought back DB Bennett Jackon, claiming him from the Ravens. The Jets need depth in the secondary with Jamal Adams (ankle), Brian Poole (concussion protocol) and Arthur Maulet (calf) all banged up.

Jackson was claimed by the Jets on Sept. 1 and was waived two weeks later. He then joined the team’s practice squad but was signed to the Ravens’ active roster on Oct. 15.

Adam Gase unsure if C.J. Mosley will return

Jets head coach Adam Gase is not sure if C.J. Mosley will play again this season.

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Jets linebacker C.J. Mosley might not be back on the football field until 2020.

Adam Gase spoke to the media on Wednesday and was asked what Mosley’s status is for the rest of the season. Gase said he doesn’t really have an answer to that and that Mosley is going through the process of his rehab. The initial diagnosis was that Mosley would be out at least six weeks, but groin injuries are tricky. He suffered this injury back in Week 1 and tried coming back in Week 7, but ultimately re-injured his groin.

In other injury news, both Chuma Edoga (ankle/knee) and Darryl Roberts (calf) did not practice on Wednesday. Kelvin Beachum (ankle) was limited.