Jets send loud message to defensive captain with shocking benching

New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn has continued to preach accountability since assuming his current position earlier this year. Now, he hasn't always followed through on his promise of accountability, but he did so — at least temporarily — on Sunday.

Jets defensive captain Jamien Sherwood was not on the field for either of the team's first two defensive drives of Sunday's Week 8 game against the Cincinnati Bengals, instead being replaced by rookie Kiko Mauigoa.

The decision didn't exactly prove to be very fruitful, as the Bengals scored on each of their first two possessions, including a five-play 65-yard touchdown drive toward the end of the first quarter.

Sherwood would return in the second quarter when the Bengals took the field for their third possession, replacing Mauigoa alongside Quincy Williams. The reason for his temporary benching remains unknown.

Jets bench Jamien Sherwood for rookie LB Kiko Mauigoa

Sherwood signed a three-year, $45 million extension with the Jets in the offseason following a breakout 2024 season that saw him receive All-Pro votes in his first year as a full-time starter.

Expectations were high for the linebacker duo of Williams and Sherwood entering 2025, but the former has missed time due to a shoulder injury, while the latter has underperformed.

Sherwood's performance has been particularly concerning in coverage, with the former college safety posting an abysmal 40.3 Pro Football Focus coverage grade through seven weeks.

He's allowed a whopping 25 catches for 276 yards in just 29 targets with a passer rating of 129.3 when targeted. But while his coverage has been shaky, Sherwood has been one of the best run defenders in the NFL.

Sherwood's 84.6 PFF run defense grade ranks 9th among 86 qualified linebackers in the NFL. He's recorded 19 run stops and missed just 7.2% of his tackle attempts.

Glenn will probably be asked about Sherwood's status after the game and if his temporary benching was performance or discipline-related. Either way, it's certainly not an encouraging development for the team's defensive captain, who was just handed a big-money extension a few months ago.