FRIDAY INJURY REPORT
NEW YORK JETS
–OUT: WR Charone Peake (hamstring), TE Neal Sterling (concussion)
–QUESTIONABLE: S Marcus Maye (ankle, foot), S Doug Middleton (knee, finger), CB Buster Skrine (knee)
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
–OUT: CB D.J. Hayden (toe)
–QUESTIONABLE: G A.J. Cann (triceps), RB Leonard Fournette (hamstring)
PLAYER NOTES
–DT Malik Jackson has appeared in 93 consecutive games and started 53 in a row. Jackson’s streak of consecutive games played ranks second among NFL defensive tackles (L.A. Rams DT Ndamukong Suh, 103) while his streak of 53 consecutive starts ranks fourth. Jackson may be in line for a fine from the NFL following his hit on Titans quarterback Blaine Gabbert in Sunday’s game. Jackson was flagged 15 yards for “lowering the head to initiate contact.” Gabbert suffered a concussion on the play, left the game and did not return. Jackson, when asked if he could have done anything differently on the play, said, “I really don’t think so, to be honest with you, except probably not chase him. And then I would probably have the coaches on me.”
–PK Josh Lambo has made 100 percent of his field goal attempts at TIAA Bank Stadium (15 of 15). He has also made 16 consecutive FGs, tied for the third-longest consecutive made FGs streak in franchise history.
–WR Keelan Cole has recorded 958 receiving yards since entering the NFL as an undrafted rookie in 2017. His yardage total in that span ranks second among undrafted wide receivers (Vikings WR Adam Thielen) and third among receivers with two years or less of experience, trailing Steelers WR JuJu Smith-Schuster and Rams WR Cooper Kupp.
–P Logan Cooke showed good consistency last Sunday with four punts of between 45 and 52 yards with two of his six punts landing inside the 20. “I think he has been really good inside the 20 (but) I think he has to do a better job of flipping the field. I think he would be the first one to tell you that,” said Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone.
–WR DJ Chark continues to be a non-factor in the Jaguars offensive plans. Chark was targeted just one time in the Titans game with the ball going off his fingertips. He’s now been targeted five times in three games and has just one catch for 13 yards but then he fumbled the ball away against New England.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: DE Yannick Ngakoue. Ngakoue had two tackles in last Sunday’s game against Tennessee and that was his highest total in three contests thus far this season. In the opener against the New York Giants, he had one tackle. A week later against New England, he was not credited with a tackle. Three tackles in three games, no sacks, no tackles for loss, no forced fumbles. All this from a player that many thought was on the cusp of a breakout year after totaling 8.0 sacks as a rookie and 12 last season. Ngakoue is not playing with any type of injury, he’s just not getting involved with stopping runners or getting to quarterbacks. He’s been close on occasions and has been credited with a team-high six quarterback hurries which ranks ninth in the NFL. Ngakoue has also been double-teamed on occasions or at least clipped by an opposing tight end. Jaguars coaches are still high on him and say it’s just a matter of time until he has a big game with multiple sacks and tackles.
GAME PLAN: For the Jaguars offense, much depends on the health of their top two running backs, Leonard Fournette and T.J. Yeldon. Fournette has now missed the last two weeks of action with the hamstring injury and Yeldon (gimpy ankle) was limited last week to just seven carries (44 yards) and six receptions (46 yards). While 90 yards in 13 plays is good for nearly 7 yards per attempt, the Jaguars need more from their starting running back. Corey Grant is not the answer on a regular basis as he’s just not big enough to be running between the tackles for much success. If Fournette and Yeldon are either out or limited, look for another heavy dosage of Blake Bortles’ short passes mixed in with an occasional run by the Jaguars quarterback. Defensively the Jaguars are likely to try and make Darnold beat them with his passing as the Jets running attack is not the best. Darnold has talent but he’s also playing in just his fourth NFL game and the veteran Jaguars defense will throw a number of blitz packages at him to try and confuse and rattle the rookie QB.
MATCHUPS TO WATCH
–Jets QB Sam Darnold vs. Jaguars CBs Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye. After facing three veteran quarterbacks (Eli Manning, Tom Brady, Marcus Mariota) the first three weeks of the season, the Jaguars secondary gets the opposite end of the spectrum when they go against the rookie Darnold. The Jets QB has at times looked worthy of his No. 3 overall pick in this past draft. He’s completed 60 percent of his passes and has 701 passing yards and 3 touchdowns after three games. But he’s also looked like a rookie at times having already thrown five interceptions and having a couple others dropped by defenders. Darnold has a strong arm but also has a bad habit of throwing late across his body, especially so when he’s under pressure from opposing linemen. That may result in Ramsey and Bouye playing tighter on the receivers they’ll be covering on Sunday. Last week against Tennessee, both All-Pro players seemed to give too much of a cushion to Titan receivers who caught a number of passes for 8-, 9-, 10-yard gains and first downs. Look for both of the Jaguars corners to play tight man to man coverage on Jets receivers, none of whom have shown they have the ability to beat a defender on a go pattern thus far.
–Jaguars OL vs. Jets SS Jamal Adams. Huh? Why would the O-line have to worry about a strong safety? Because in Adams, he plays all over the field including close to the line of scrimmage where he will often come on a blitz. The Jaguars linemen, particularly the two guards will need to keep an eye on Adams when he lines up on their side of the ball and must be ready to drop back enough to pick him up if he comes after Blake Bortles. Against the Browns last week, the Jets employed a number of different blitzes, including having Adams come from several different locations. Adams has already recorded a sack, has forced a fumble and has an interception. Jaguars LG Andrew Norwell signed a lucrative free agent contract to fill the void at that position but he has not lived up to the standards that he set a year ago with Carolina when he was an All-Pro. At the other guard spot, Chris Reed started his first game of the year for the injured A.J. Cann and while he played well for the most part, was nailed for a holding call and allowed some pressure on Bortles on a couple other plays.
