Jets linebacker room takes another hit as injuries keep piling up

The New York Jets limped to the finish line in another humiliating home loss to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 5, both figuratively and literally. As Jets fans watched their defense struggle to stay competitive, the unit lost yet another starter at an already-thin position group.

Brian Costello of the New York Post reported after the game that rookie linebacker Kiko Mauigoa was spotted leaving the locker room in a walking boot. Mauigoa started his second consecutive game on Sunday with the Jets down two of their top three linebackers.

Jets head coach Aaron Glenn didn't provide an update on Mauigoa's status when speaking to reporters after the game, and it's unclear when the injury occurred. It's certainly not an encouraging sign that he left the stadium in a walking boot, however.

The Jets' defense is bad enough as is. They don't need any additional injury setbacks to make an already struggling unit even worse.

Jets LB injuries piling up as Kiko Mauigoa leaves Week 5 in a walking boot

The Jets are already down two of their top three linebackers, with Quincy Williams (shoulder) and Marcelino McCrary-Ball (hamstring) both on the injured reserve. Williams is expected to be sidelined more than the minimum four games.

Those injuries have thrust Mauigoa into the spotlight early in his NFL career. The Jets selected Mauigoa within the fifth round of this year's draft with the expectation that he would develop behind Jamien Sherwood as the backup MIKE linebacker while contributing on special teams.

Instead, he's been inserted into the starting lineup as the WILL linebacker alongside Sherwood. His performance over the last two weeks has left a lot to be desired.

Mauigoa posted a poor 51.2 Pro Football Focus grade in his first start against Miami last Monday, and preliminary PFF grading doesn't have his Week 5 performance as much better, a lowly 56.7 mark.

Still, the Jets are running out of playable bodies at the linebacker position. Veteran backups Mykal Walker, Cam Jones, and Mark Robinson, all of whom were not on the team's preseason roster, all played defensive snaps in Sunday's loss.

Walker has the most NFL experience and could be the favorite to start next to Sherwood if Mauigoa is forced to miss time. As a reminder, the Jets just signed Walker to their active roster on Saturday. That's the state of this linebacker room.

The Jets will hope to receive a positive update on the status of their rookie linebacker, but it seems Sunday's embarrassing loss was just another insult to injury for an already battered Jets roster.

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