Jets Receive Concerning Sauce Gardner Injury News Ahead Of Week 2
The New York Jets have a lot of questions to answer with their defense this week. Coming into the season, the team was expected to rely heavily on the defense, but the Pittsburgh Steelers scored 34 points to top the Jets, leading to questions surrounding the defense.
These questions could become even more pressing after the Jets' latest injury report. After not appearing on the injury report, Jets cornerback popped up on Thursday as a limited participant in practice with a groin injury.
Justin Fried of the Jet Press recently discussed Gardner's impact on the Jets' defense. The star corner was one of the only bright spots on the Jets' defense in Week 1.
"Gardner wasted little time re-establishing himself as one of the NFL's premier cornerbacks this past Sunday. The two-time All-Pro finished with a 90.3 Pro Football Focus grade that was best among all cornerbacks in Week 1," Fried wrote. "He was credited with allowing only one catch for 11 yards on four targets, and that lone reception came on a bizarre, four-times-deflected ball that landed in DK Metcalf’s lap. Gardner was even credited with a pass breakup on the play, but it still went down as a completion against him.
Sauce Gardner added to injury report, limited with groin injury
"The Jets know exactly how important Gardner is to their defense, especially given the performance of his position-mate, Brandon Stephens, in Week 1. Stephens was a massive liability, allowing five catches for 60 yards and two touchdowns."
Gardner was one of the most impactful defenders in football in Week 1. He was completely lock down against the Steelers. Although Aaron Rodgers threw four touchdowns, none of them came against the Jets' top cornerback.
With his status in question against the loaded Buffalo Bills offense, the Jets could be in serious trouble. Brandon Stephens was one of the worst defenders in football in Week 1, and he could be forced to take the No. 1 cornerback role against one of the best offenses in football. If Gardner isn't a full participant in the next few days, the Jets could be in some trouble.
Chiefs Get Big Update on Tyreek Hill Trade Rumors
The Kansas City Chiefs will have at least a temporary opening in their wide receiver room, but it appears they will not be filling it with their former All-Pro — not just yet, at least.
The Chiefs were pegged as a top contender to bring back speedster Tyreek Hill as the Miami Dolphins were rumored to put him on the trade block. The Chiefs may need a temporary fill-in for Xavier Worthy as he nurses a shoulder injury, and Hill could return to the place his NFL career started.
But a new report indicates that the Dolphins aren’t ready to part ways with their star receiver just yet.
Dolphins Not Picking Up the Phone Yet
There had been trade rumors swirling around Hill for more than a year, starting with his very public criticism of the team after their 2023 playoff exit. The relationship between Hill and the Dolphins appears to be growing more fractured as the team got off to a disastrous start in a blowout loss to the Indianapolis Colts.
But ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that the Dolphins are not ready to consider offers for Hill yet.
“Trade rumors around Tyreek Hill will be worth watching,” Fowler wrote. “My understanding is that Miami received calls on Hill but did not show interest in trading him. If the losing persists, perhaps those phone lines open. The Dolphins already exercised Hill’s $15.85 million option bonus, leaving a $10 million base salary and $1.8 million in per-game bonuses.”
Fowler added that the Chiefs could be the most logical landing spot if the Dolphins were to trade Hill.
“A Chiefs reunion is low-hanging fruit and could be what Kansas City needs,” Fowler wrote. “The Chiefs can’t seem to get their receiving trio of Xavier Worthy, Rashee Rice and Hollywood Brown on the field at the same time, and a boost of explosiveness would help.”
Chiefs Take Hit at Wide Receiver
The Chiefs suffered a setback in their Week 1 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers when Worthy collided with tight end Travis Kelce as both were running crossing routes. Worthy missed the rest of the game with a shoulder injury and is in danger of missing more time.
“It’s unfortunate how it happened,” offensive coordinator Matt Nagy told reporters on Thursday, via ESPN. “Kelce feels terrible, but Xavier, of all people, understands that things happen. What we’ve got to do is be able to move on from that and adapt to that, adjusting to that whole situation.”
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said the second-year wide receiver would not need surgery and that he would avoid a trip to the injured reserve, but it’s not clear when he could play again. Worthy was able to practice in a limited capacity on Thursday and could be on track to play in the team’s Week 3 game against the New York Giants if he doesn’t take the field this week.
“Xavier has been a big part of this with training camp and practice,” Nagy said. “When you practice, you have so many reps and you’re getting reps with those guys, and now you’ve got to adjust. No one is feeling sorry for us.”
