Will McDonald continues to prove why NY Jets don't need Haason Reddick
By Justin Fried
As Haason Reddick continues to sit at home, forfeiting another $800,000 in Week 3, Will McDonald is doing his best to prove the NY Jets don't need their prized offseason acquisition.
McDonald had his breakout performance in Week 2, tallying three sacks and a forced fumble in the Jets' 24-17 win over the Tennessee Titans. That includes a clutch fourth-quarter sack that came close to sealing the win.
Now, just a few days later, McDonald is doing it again. The former Iowa State star already has 1.5 sacks and three QB hits in one half of football. That brings his sack total in the season up to 4.5, which is 1.5 more than he had as a rookie.
In fact, McDonald's 4.5 sacks are more than 15 (!!!) other NFL teams have in total. McDonald is single-handedly out-sacking half of the NFL. Again, Reddick who?
Will McDonald giving NY Jets all the leverage in Haason Reddick contract dispute
The Jets lost Pro Bowl defensive end Jermaine Johnson for the season to a torn Achilles this past Sunday, putting the state of the team's already shaky defensive line in a bind. But McDonald is doing his best to prove the Jets don't need to make any rash decisions.
Johnson's injury was believed to swing leverage in Reddick's favor. After all, the Jets lost Bryce Huff and John Franklin-Myers in the offseason and traded for Reddick with the expectation that he would help replace them.
Without Huff, Franklin-Myers, and now Johnson, the Jets are down three of their four best defensive linemen from a year ago. McDonald's emergence, however, is currently saving a Jets defensive line that lacks the star power it had last season.
The Jets will have 10 days off following tonight's game to work out a deal with Reddick before their Week 4 matchup with the Denver Broncos. At this point, McDonald is giving the Jets all the leverage they need.