NY Jets CB Brandin Echols suspended for start of the 2023 season

NY Jets cornerback Brandin Echols has received a one-game suspension from the NFL for violating the league's personal conduct policy. The suspension stems from a two-car crash that Echols was involved in back in April 2022.

The crash occurred on April 22, 2022 near the Jets' facility in Florham Park, NJ, and left Stephen Gilberg "partially paralyzed," per police and court records.

Echols was driving a Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat, allegedly traveling at 84 mph five seconds before the crash, when he collided with Gilberg's BMW X5. The 25-year-old cornerback entered a three-year pretrial intervention program earlier this year after he was charged with assault by auto.

Echols was uninjured in the crash and reportedly not under the influence, per his attorney. He's been ordered to pay $54k in restitution to Gilberg for the damages he caused. To learn more about the incident you can click this link.

NY Jets cornerback Brandin Echols will miss the first game of the season

A sixth-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Echols was thrust into a starting role early in his career, starting 14 games as a rookie. The former Kentucky standout held his own too, although he was relegated to a backup role in 2022 following the additions of Sauce Gardner and D.J. Reed.

Echols appeared in 13 games for the Jets in 2022, although he only played eight percent of the team's defensive snaps. He was, however, a regular contributor on special teams, playing 62 percent of the Jets' special-teams snaps.

The Jets essentially left their cornerback room untouched this offseason. Gardner and Reed are slated to return as the starting duo with Michael Carter II in the slot. Echols and Bryce Hall project as the top backups, with special-teams regular Justin Hardee in the mix as well.

Since Echols will miss just one game, it's unlikely that his roster spot is in jeopardy. It does likely help Hall's case, though, as the Jets could certainly use the extra cornerback depth.