Latest Jets comments on Quincy Williams only add to the confusion

The NY Jets may have completely washed the old guard out of town by trading Sauce Gardner to the Indianapolis Colts and Quinnen Williams to the Dallas Cowboys, but they raised eyebrows by refusing to trade a player they are unlikely to retain in free agency, in linebacker Quincy Williams.

To make matters even more unusual, the Jets aren't even going to commit to Williams as a starting linebacker. Williams has reportedly been benched ahead of Week 10 against the Cleveland Browns, which means rookie Kiko Mauigoa will start next to Jamien Sherwood.

While this logically appears to be the end of Williams' tenure in New York, defensive coordinator Steve Wilks doesn't seem to be into the idea of burying No. 56. In fact, he seems to think the No. 3 linebacker on the depth chart is going to play a big role in the shape of this defense.

Wilks envisions Williams being a "major part" of the team's defense despite the demotion and some quotes from the staff that implied Williams has been underperforming for some time now. Playing two poor linebackers hasn't worked for the Jets, but Wilks somehow thinks three such players might turn things around.

Jets believe Quincy Williams will contribute despite benching

Williams had recorded 22 tackles and 1.5 sacks in four games this season, but his poor coverage performance and his inability to stay healthy crystallized the notion that he won't be back with the Jets in 2026. Keeping him past the deadline still seems odd.

Perhaps Wilks is saying that he may not believe wholeheartedly in this plan to switch up the linebacker room. After all, Sherwood has been arguably the most disappointing player on the roster to this point, given his expensive contract, and Mauigoa has mixed two very good starts in with two terrible ones.

The Jets' defense was one of the worst in the league, with Gardner once again performing at an All-Pro level and Quinnen standing out as one of the best run-stuffing defensive tackles in the NFL. Without those two and a former All-Pro in Williams, expect another sharp regression.

The Jets have told the rest of the NFL and their fans that they don't think Williams is going to be a piece that helps them win any time soon, but Wilks' comments seem to be going against that directive. Time will tell what Williams' exact role moving forward is.