Jets players voice frustrations after starting season with sixth straight loss
The New York Jets fell to 0-6 on the season via a 13-11 loss to the Denver Broncos at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on Sunday.
Following that result, multiple Jets players voiced their frustrations about the state of the club, which has the worst record in the NFL.
Jets need to be better in all three phases
"I’m still p—," Jets pass-rusher Jermaine Johnson said, per Antwan Staley of the New York Daily News. I don’t like to [expletive] lose. I just gotta be better where I can be better where I can be better. The defense has to be better. We can do better in all three phases, special teams, offense, and we gotta keep attacking."
Before the Jets flew overseas for the Week 6 game, members of their defense came together for a players-only meeting because they didn't want to be the reason the club lost contests. That unit then held the Broncos to just one touchdown, and it tallied a safety on Sunday.
Unfortunately for Johnson and Co., Jets quarterback Justin Fields took nine sacks during an outing that left some outsiders wondering if first-year head coach Aaron Glenn would turn to backup Tyrod Taylor. Glenn didn't, and Fields ultimately completed just 9-of-17 passes for 45 yards versus Denver.
Jets offense had star in "a tough spot" vs. Broncos
"It’s a tough spot as a receiver," Jets star Garrett Wilson acknowledged, according to Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic. "Obviously, you want to keep in mind all the things they are dealing with back there. The O-Line had to deal with a tough front today. It’s not always as simple as: I’m open, I get the rock. I would just say knowing the plan we had in totality and staying and waiting and being ready for your moment if it does come."
Per ESPN stats, Fields began Monday ranked 29th in the NFL among qualified players with a 36.4 adjusted QBR on the season. Meanwhile, the Jets are 25th in the league with an average of 20.5 points scored per contest. Nevertheless, Glenn insisted he won't be benching Fields for the Jets' home game against the Carolina Panthers (3-3) on Oct. 19.
It sounds like Glenn could find himself in danger of losing the locker room if he sticks with a struggling Fields at MetLife Stadium on the third Sunday of October.
"I hate losing," Jets left guard John Simpson added. “I’ve said that a bunch of times."
Steelers’ Special Teams Ace Miles Killebrew Facing Lengthy Absence After Knee Injury
The Pittsburgh Steelers have improved over the past couple weeks in part because of better health. But the Steelers could be without safety Miles Killebrew for a while.
Head coach Mike Tomlin called Killebrew’s injury “significant” while going through the team’s ailments Monday. The head coach also referred to the safety’s injury as “significant” immediately after Sunday’s matchup with the Cleveland Browns.
As a result, Tomlin already ruled out the safety for the team’s Week 7 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday.
Killebrew didn’t play a snap on defense in the first five games for the Steelers this season. But Killebrew is one of the best special teams players in the league.
In 2023, Killebrew made first-team All-Pro as a special teams ace. He also made the Pro Bowl for that role in 2023 and 2024.
Steelers’ Miles Killebrew Suffers ‘Significant’ Knee Injury
Killebrew sustained his knee injury in the second half against the Browns on Sunday. The ailment occurred while Killebrew was covering a punt.
If placed on injured reserve, the safety will miss at least four games. It sounds like that’s the minimal amount of time Killebrew might be out.
Tomlin has yet to offer further details on the seriousness of the safety’s injury. But based on the replay of the injury and Tomlin calling the ailment “significant,” it wouldn’t be surprising if Killebrew misses the rest of the season.
In five games this season, Killebrew has posted five combined tackles. He lined up for 64% of the team’s snaps on special teams.
Tomlin implied it will be difficult for the team to replace Killebrew, but the head coach also suggested they must have the “next man up” mentality.
“He’s our captain. But you guys know the moto that we live by. We can certainly hurt for him as a man and as a teammate and a brother and an individual,” Tomlin told reporters Monday. “But from a football perspective, another man’s fortunate is another man’s opportunity.
“We certainly have some capable people. There’s an expectation that others step up and fill in the gaps.”
Tomlin didn’t rule out multiple players needing to step up in different roles to replace Killebrew.
“We’re going to divide the labor up based on the skillset in a certain space,” Tomlin added. “One guy might be similar to him in punt team. Another guy might be similar to him in terms of what he does on the kickoff team. We’ll deal with those individually, per space.”
Killebrew Suffered Injury on ‘Poor’ Field at Acrisure Stadium
The field conditions at Acrisure Stadium in Week 6 were less than ideal. The middle of the field was particularly chewed up, especially by the end of the game.
It’s possible the field contributed to Killebrew’s injury.
Tomlin declined to go that far, telling reporters Monday he had “no idea” if the field played a role in the safety’s injury. But Tomlin called the field conditions “poor.”
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers referred to the field as “borderline unplayable.”
The field at Acrisure Stadium has been a topic of discussion for quite some time, especially locally in Pittsburgh. The Steelers played a famous mud game on Monday Night Football in 2007 against the Detroit Lions.
The field conditions were so bad in that contest, the two teams played the NFL’s first 3-0 affair in 14 years.
But the conditions at Acrisure Stadium have improved in more recent years. It should be better in the team’s next game as well.
ESPN’s Brooke Pryor reported Sunday evening the stadium was re-sodding the field after Week 6.
The Steelers have only played two games at Acrisure Stadium this season. But they had a home preseason contest in August, and the Pitt Panthers have already played four games at Acrisure this season.
Steelers Now’s Alan Saunders reported Monday that seven games is about the length of time a field with the type of grass Acrisure Stadium has will last.
