New York Jets: Two key defensive players expected to return this week

The New York Jets are expected to see the returns of both Jamal Adams and Quinnen Williams this week after both missed time with injuries.

The New York Jets entered an already challenging matchup with the Baltimore Ravens last Thursday on a short week and with a shorthanded roster. And as expected, the team didn’t fare too well.

But with an extra few days to get healthy, the Jets are in-line to see the returns of two very important defensive players this Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Team captain and lone Pro Bowl representative Jamal Adams and first-round rookie Quinnen Williams are both expected to return to action this week against Pittsburgh.

Adams has missed the last two games while dealing with a sprained ankle suffered in the Jets’ 22-6 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. The former LSU star had never missed a game at either the professional, collegiate, or even high school level due to injury.

And it’s safe to say that he didn’t handle his absence well.

Adams claimed he was in a “real low place” while watching his team play from the sidelines these last two weeks. The ultimate competitor, Adams will surely relish in the opportunity to take the field again if given the opportunity this week.

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And he’ll undoubtedly have his sights set on breaking the single-season sack record by a defensive back that he flirted with topping prior to his injury. He only needs 1.5 more sacks to tie Adrian Wilson‘s mark of eight set back in 2005.

Meanwhile, the Jets will also see their prized first-round pick return to action. It goes without saying that Williams’ production has been disappointing this season, but the Alabama product was playing the best football of his brief NFL career before suffering a neck injury.

That neck injury described as a “burner” would force him to miss the Baltimore game but he’s expected to return this week after a brief one-week absence.

And that’s great news for a Jets team looking to make strides towards the future in these final two weeks.

Williams has come under constant criticism this season — some warranted, some not — and an impressive final two weeks would go a long way towards silencing his doubters.

This may be the healthiest Jets roster we’ve seen in weeks and they’ll need all the help they could get against a Pittsburgh Steelers team fighting for a playoff spot.

The Steelers could ill-afford a slip-up against the Jets and with their backs against the wall, expect the best version of this team to show up on Sunday.

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Fortunately, it appears that the Jets will have Adams and Williams back to help fuel the potential upset.

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