NY Jets news: Robert Saleh takes blame, Quinnen Williams update, former Jets LB retires

The NY Jets fell to the Detroit Lions in disappointing fashion in Week 15. Blame it on Zach Wilson, blame it on poor clock management, blame it on blown coverage — whatever the cause, the Jets couldn't get the job done.

Head coach Robert Saleh took the blame for one of those things when speaking to the media following the game. Saleh was asked about his questionable time management at the end of the game, and he admitted that he probably could have used a timeout earlier.

"I can probably look back on it and say we could’ve used ," Saleh told reporters after the game. The Jets didn't use their first timeout until there were 19 seconds left on the clock.

Saleh likely should have used his first timeout following Zach Wilson's 10-yard completion to Garrett Wilson. The decision not to cost the team around 20 seconds.

The reason Saleh didn't call a timeout in that situation was that the Jets didn't want to give the referees time to look at and potentially overturn the catch. The logic makes sense, but it was ultimately the wrong decision in hindsight and Saleh admitted it.

Other NY Jets news

Quinnen Williams injury update

Saleh also provided an update on star defensive tackle Quinnen Williams who was forced to miss this week's game due to a calf injury. Saleh told reporters after the game that Williams "has a chance" to play on Thursday, but that he still has some hurdles to clear.

Williams injured his calf in the Jets' Week 14 loss to the Buffalo Bills and was considered a game-time decision on Sunday. The Jets ultimately decided to hold him out of the game, but it seems as though he's trending in the right direction for Thursday.

The short week isn't ideal for the Jets, but the fact that Williams had a chance to play on Sunday is encouraging for his odds of playing on Thursday night. His status is very much worth monitoring over the coming days.

Avery Williamson retires

Former Jets linebacker Avery Williamson appeared to have announced his retirement from the NFL in a post on his Instagram page on Sunday.

Williamson played three seasons with the Jets from 2018 to 2020 although he missed the entire 2019 season due to a torn ACL. The 30-year-old Ohio native played eight seasons in the NFL, primarily with the Tennessee Titans where he started 59 games over five years.

Williamson last played with the Titans in 2021 when he re-signed with his former team to appear in two games, playing exclusively on special teams.

In a fun twist of fate, the fifth-round pick the Jets acquired in the team's trade of Williamson to the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2020 was eventually used as part of the trade-up to select Jermaine Johnson in this year's draft.