Joseph Ossai 'getting really close' to return in latest injury update from Aaron Glenn

Every NFL team deals with injuries, and the New York Jets are no different. Losing Omar Cooper Jr. and Minkah Fitzpatrick this past Sunday was tough enough for New York, but those aren't the only two Jets currently dealing with ailments.

When Aaron Glenn spoke with the media on Wednesday, he provided updates on several players and their injury designations from the same day's practice. There were some new additions to report, along with the usual suspects.

"The injuries: we have four guys that won't be practicing today. And these guys are basically week to week. And it's Kene (Nwangwu), Omar (Cooper Jr.), Joe Ossai, who I'm really impressed with how he's been moving around, so he's getting really really close, and also Minkah."

Glenn also noted that defensive tackle David Onyemata will be having a veteran's rest day, while linebacker Jamien Sherwood and cornerbacks D'Angelo Ponds and Jarvis Brownlee Jr. will be limited at Wednesday's practice.

New York Jets injury update likely means Joseph Ossai will not return in Week 2

Ossai, who has yet to make his Jets debut after signing a three-year, $34.5 million contract in free agency this past spring, seems to be trending in the wrong direction ahead of Week 2 against the Green Bay Packers.

Unless he is able to make a full return to practice on both Thursday and Friday, Ossai will likely have to wait another week before finally suiting up for a regular-season game.

In the meantime, expect expanded roles for both Kingsley Enagbare and Braiden McGregor, the Jets' two other edge-setting defenders who had strong outings in Week 1 against the Tennessee Titans.

D'Angelo Ponds' New York Jets debut could be imminent

Probably the most encouraging update from Glenn was his note on their second-round draft pick this past spring, Ponds. The former Indiana standout has been an absentee dating to the summer.

A calf injury cost Ponds all of training camp and the preseason, and the rookie only returned to practice last week. He logged three straight days of limited practice time ahead of Week 1, but Glenn held him out because he felt the young defensive back wasn't mentally ready.

Heading into Week 1, the Jets may have felt comfortable holding Ponds off just a little bit longer. But with Fitzpatrick's quad injury, he may have just become a necessity.

New York desperately needs help in the secondary, particularly at nickel cornerback, a position which Ponds seemed primed to step into when the Jets selected him in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Hopefully, after a few more practices this week, the rookie will be ready to make his NFL debut against the Packers on Sunday.

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