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FLORHAM PARK, NJ – New York Jets linebacker Jarrad Davis is expected to miss about two months with a left ankle injury, another blow to their faltering defense.
Coach Robert Saleh, speaking to reporters on Monday, did not elaborate on the nature of Davis’ injury except to say that it is not a high ankle sprain. Saleh said they hope to find him “around the week off,” which is Week 6 for the Jets.
A move to the injured reserve seems inevitable. As long as Davis is on the original 53-player roster after the Aug. 31 final cup, he can return after three weeks in IR.
Davis was transported to the locker room in Saturday’s 23-14 win over the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Two days earlier, during joint training with the Packers, defensive end Carl Lawson suffered an Achilles tendon injury that ended the season.
Lawson and Davis were two of the Jets’ biggest offseason acquisitions in defense. Lawson signed a three-year, $ 45 million contract; Davis, a former Detroit Lions first-round pick, signed for $ 5.5 million on a one-year contract.
“I don’t think it’s as hard on me as it is on them,” Saleh said of Davis and Lawson. “We’ll find out. Someone’s going to step in and we’ll keep moving.”
The situation is dramatic for the linebacker. The only proven player is middle linebacker CJ Mosley, who has only played two games in the past two seasons due to injury and withdrawal for COVID-19 reasons.
Rookie Jamien Sherwood, a fifth-round pick, will replace Davis on the strong side of their 4-3 front. The weak side starter will be Noah Dawkins (career 15 games), who started on Saturday, or sixth-round pick Hamsah Nasirildeen, who had secured first-team reps at training camp.
Worsening concern: Sherwood and Nasirildeen are both new to the linebacker. They played it safe at Auburn and Florida State, respectively. The Jets drafted them with the idea of converting them to linebackers because of their speed and covering ability.
Speaking of Sherwood, Saleh made a vague comparison to San Francisco 49ers All-Pro middle linebacker Fred Warner, whom he coached from 2018 to 2020. He meant in terms of size and change in size. position.
“I want to make sure I put it right,” Saleh said. “I don’t compare him to Fred yet – he’s still got a long way to go – but Fred played nickel in college and was maybe 220, 225 in his rookie year. [We] threw him at linebacker Mike, kicked him off on day one and he took off. “
Saleh called Sherwood an “incredible communicator” with excellent instincts and intelligence. The Jets also have veteran Blake Cashman, an often injured replacement.
The Jets are working on free agent linebackers and are exploring possible trades for a pass-rusher to replace Lawson, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on Sunday. Saleh dodged a question about a potential exchange, saying he was focusing on the list.
“There will always be staff discussions,” he said.
In other injury news, backup tackle Conor McDermott (knee) is set to miss a lot of time. Back-up quarterback Mike White (ribs), defensive end Ronnie Blair (hamstrings), goaltender Alijah Vera-Tucker (chest sprain) and wide receiver Elijah Moore (quads) are on the day-to-day.
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