NY Jets: 5 players the team can't afford to lose to injury in 2021

5. C.J. Mosley, LB, NY Jets

The clear and obvious player on the list is C.J. Mosley. After proving to be one of the best defensive players in the league with the Baltimore Ravens, Mosley took his talents to New York on a lucrative deal back in 2019.

Since then, Mosley has yet to play an entire football game with the team.

He made his first appearance for the Jets in a huge way against the Buffalo Bills as they jumped out to a 17-0 lead in Week 1 of the 2019 season, with Mosley contributing his own defensive touchdown to boot.

But once the linebacker went down with an injury, the defense collapsed — as did the entire season.

That season, Mosley would only go on to play one more half of football before being sidelined the remainder of the year. The linebacker would opt out in 2020 as well due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mosley hasn't played a full game in nearly three years — but that all seems set to change.

Mosley is paired with Robert Saleh, as well as a talented defensive line that seems primed for a breakout season. Anything short of a Pro Bowl season for C.J. Mosley will surely be a disappointment for most fans, many of whom seem to be upset with the lack of availability of the pricy linebacker.

When healthy, Mosley is one of the best linebackers in the league. He alone can elevate an entire defense. That's why he needs to stay healthy for every single game of the 2021 season.