Quincy Williams may have had the worst coverage game ever in brutal Week 15 loss

The New York Jets have a terrible defense due, in part, to the trades of Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams, as well as players like Robert Saleh holdover Quincy Williams taking huge steps back. The defense has now regressed to the point where they allowed 48 points in a Week 15 blowout at the hands of Trevor Lawrence and the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Not only did Williams, who refused to speak to the media after the game, get burned in coverage all game long, but he got roasted to a degree that made his Week 15 performance one of the most alarming coverage performances in recent history from a linebacker.

Pro Football Focus' preliminary grading (which, it should be noted, is subject to change) credited Williams with six catches allowed on six targets, all while surrendering 120 yards. Somehow, Williams gave up touchdowns on four of his six targets, as Liam Coen was picking him apart.

After surrendering six total touchdowns to Lawrence and watching Travis Etienne scamper into the end zone for three receiving scores, Williams' nightmare game might be the biggest reason Jacksonville appeared to be as invincible as they were in this one.

Jets LB Quincy Williams was roasted in coverage by Jaguars in Week 15 loss

All signs point to Williams playing somewhere else next season. Not only does he look ill-equipped to start outside of Robert Saleh's scheme and no longer has the added benefit of playing alongside his brother, but he has regressed to the point where he may not even be a starting-caliber linebacker anymore.

Williams and the highly compensated Jamien Sherwood have both underperformed this season, but Sherwood has at least shown himself to be competent at stopping the run. Williams has put together his worst season with the Jets, and the front office may not be too sad to see him go.

This Jacksonville loss illustrated how badly the Jets need to upgrade at linebacker. Not only do the Jets need a franchise quarterback and some new pass rushers on the edge, but they also need to spend money in free agency to either acquire a big-name inside linebacker or select one in the 2026 NFL Draft.

The one consolation Jets fans can take from this game is that many of the players who contributed most heavily to this defeat (Williams included) will not be back in the 2026 season, and the loss ensured they once again have one of the better picks in the upcoming NFL Draft.