The team announced via social media that they have signed veteran defensive back Marquise Blair to the practice squad. In a corresponding move, the Jets released offensive lineman Alec Lindstrom from the practice squad.
“The Jets’ defense will be tested due to a slew of injuries, which are expected to sideline 60 percent of the starting secondary,” ahead of their Week 7 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers, according to Jets contributor Jack Bell.
Blair Is a Potential Upside Play for the Jets
Blair, 27, was the No. 47 overall pick in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft.
Over the course of six seasons, he has played for three teams, including two separate stints with the Seattle Seahawks. Blair has appeared in 26 games, starting in three. During that span, he recorded 52 total tackles, 36 of them solo.
Coming out of Utah, Blair entered the NFL with high expectations but hasn’t quite reached that potential.
This is a low-risk, high-reward move for the Jets. They will give him time on the practice squad to learn the defense and adjust to the team’s concepts. If he can pick things up quickly, he could earn a larger role.
However, if Blair continues to struggle as he has at times in his career, his stay in New York may be brief.
Jets’ Injury Woes Will Test Depth and Coaching
Starting slot cornerback Michael Carter II missed practice on both Wednesday and Thursday with a back injury. He’s also been battling multiple issues throughout the season, including ankle and hamstring problems.
D.J. Reed, who has been one of the top-performing corners in the league, left Week 6 against the Buffalo Bills with a groin injury and also did not practice on Wednesday or Thursday.
Reed is currently ranked as the third-best cornerback by Pro Football Focus with an overall defensive grade of 86.6. He’s also the second-highest graded corner in coverage with a score of 87.4.
The safety position is another area of concern for the Jets.
Starting safety Chuck Clark was placed on injured reserve this week with an ankle injury, which means he will miss at least four games.
This injury-plagued secondary is set to take the field on Sunday Night Football against the Steelers.
They’ll need to be ready for two possible quarterbacks. Justin Fields has started the first six games, showcasing his skills both as a passer and a runner.
Fields is completing 66.3% of his passes, has a 5:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio, and has rushed for over 231 yards.
Russell Wilson, now fully recovered from a calf injury suffered in the offseason, offers a more polished passing game compared to Fields. However, if the Steelers were to make a quarterback switch, they would sacrifice the mobility Fields brings.
Wilson, though still somewhat mobile, isn’t the runner he once was, now at the age of 35.
