The New York Jets enter their Week 2 matchup with the Green Bay Packers riding an unfamiliar wave of momentum following a convincing 23-10 win on the road against Robert Saleh's Tennessee Titans a week ago.
The Jets will hope to carry over that momentum into today's game with a chance to start the season 2-0 for the first time since 2015. It won't come easy against a Packers team that reeks of desperation following a disastrous Week 1 loss to their division rivals last Sunday.
Green Bay allowed 29 consecutive unanswered points to blow yet another double-digit lead, this time on the road against Carson Wentz and the Minnesota Vikings. Matt LaFleur's team is under immense pressure entering this Week 2 matchup, especially given the possible draft implications at stake.
The Packers are still looking for their first win post-Micah Parsons ACL tear, and in theory, a matchup with a Jets team that won just three games a year ago could bring them that. But the Jets are hoping to prove that this year's team has very different vibes.
Both teams will be banged up entering Sunday's game. OLB Joseph Ossai (foot), DB Minkah Fitzpatrick (groin), and RB/KR Kene Nwangwu (back) are all OUT for Week 2, while rookie WR Omar Cooper Jr. (ankle) was placed on the injured reserve with an ankle injury on Saturday. He will miss a minimum of the next four games.
The good news is that rookie cornerback D'Angelo Ponds (calf) does not have an injury designation and is in line to make his NFL debut in Week 2 (or not, I guess!). Edge rusher Will McDonald is listed as questionable with an ankle injury but is expected to suit up.
As for the Packers, defensive tackles Javon Hargrave (concussion) and Warren Brinson (calf) are listed as OUT for Week 2. Right tackle Zach Bako-Bewele (knee), left guard Aaron Banks (knee), and cornerback Benjamin St. Juste (hamstring) are all questionable to play.
Edge rusher Lukas Van Ness cleared protocol this weekend and is expected to play despite suffering a concussion in this past Sunday's game. Bako-Bewele is also expected to play, while Banks may be a game-time decision (trending toward playing). The latter did not play in Week 1.
Who are the official inactives for both the Jets and the Packers today? We've got you covered.
Full inactives list for New York Jets in Week 2
- OLB Joseph Ossai
- DB Minkah Fitzpatrick
- RB/KR Kene Nwangwu
- K Blake Grupe
- LB Trevin Wallace
- CB D'Angelo Ponds
The Jets will once again be without starting edge rusher Joseph Ossai, who remains out with a foot injury. Jets head coach Aaron Glenn told reporters this week that Ossai is "really, really close" to returning, so it's possible he will make his season debut in Week 3. David Bailey, Kingsley Enagbare, Will McDonald, and Braiden McGregor are the active edge rushers today.
Minkah Fitzpatrick is out after suffering a groin injury on the Jets' first defensive possession of the season. Expect Dane Belton and Andre Cisco to start at safety, with Jarvis Brownlee in the nickel.
Another week without star kick returner Kene Nwangwu, as Isaiah Williams and Arian Smith will likely handle the team's return duties. Smith is one of just four active wide receivers as well, so it's possible he will see some action on offense too.
The Jets will roll with Jason Sanders as their kicker following an uneven but resilient performance in Week 1. Blake Grupe remains on the 53-man roster but is inactive for a second consecutive week.
The Jets elevated veteran linebacker Troy Reeder from the practice squad for today's game. Reeder joins Marcelino McCrary-Ball and Kiko Mauigoa as the team's backup linebackers and will likely receive substantial usage on special teams. Trevin Wallace is a healthy scratch once again.
The biggest surprise inactive is rookie cornerback D'Angelo Ponds, who is a "healthy" scratch. Ponds did not have an injury designation entering the game, but the Jets clearly want to be as cautious as possible with their rookie cornerback.
Full inactives list for Green Bay Packers in Week 2
- DT Warren Brinson
- DT Javon Hargrave
- OL Travis Glover
- OL John Williams
- CB Benjamin St. Juste
The Packers will be without two interior defensive linemen in today's game, most notably Javon Hargrave, who suffered a concussion in Week 1. Backup defensive tackle Warren Brinson is also inactive for a second week in a row.
The good news for Green Bay is that left guard Aaron Banks is active and will make his season debut after missing last week's game. Reserve interior lineman Donovan Jennings, who started in place of Banks last week, returns to the bench.
Backup cornerback Benjamin St. Juste is inactive after popping up on the injury report with a hamstring injury late in the week.
