The Jets’ makeshift secondary will be put to the test this week.
It survived against Denver, but the Jets won’t be facing the Broncos at MetLife Stadium on Sunday.
They will play the high-flying undefeated Eagles of Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, and the Jets won’t have No. 2 cornerback D.J. Reed back from a concussion.
Early in the week, there was confidence Reed would be well enough to play.
He practiced on a limited basis Wednesday and Thursday, but he hadn’t completely cleared concussion protocol by Friday, and didn’t practice.
The Jets will also be without Reed’s backup, Brandin Echols, for a second straight week due to a hamstring injury.
That means another start for Bryce Hall, who did perform well in the win over the Broncos.
Hall had four tackles and also returned a Russell Wilson fumble 39 yards for the game-clinching touchdown late in the fourth quarter.
A fifth-round pick in 2020, the 25-year-old Hall had his best season in 2021.
Starting all 17 games that year, Hall notched 16 passes defended and 71 tackles.
But he appeared in just five games last season without a start following the additions of Gardner and Reed.
“He came to work every day as if he was a starter. With intent, being deliberate in all that he did, positivity, you would have never known he was a starter that got demoted,” defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich said. “Because of that, he gave himself the chance to be very successful on Sunday for us, and he was. And it was one of those things that he talked [to his teammates] the night before the game, and everyone knew he was going to play well because of that.”
No. 1 corner Sauce Gardner (illness) didn’t practice on Friday, but head coach Robert Saleh expects him to play.
He is listed as questionable.
The Jets did catch a break with a few Eagles injuries.
Philadelphia will be without key starters at cornerback (Darius Slay) and defensive tackle (Jalen Carter).
Carter, a rookie first-round pick (ninth overall), has gotten off to a fast start keying the Eagles’ top-ranked rushing defense.
Starting safety Justin Evans (knee) was also placed on injured reserve by the NFC East power.
Receiver/kick returner Xavier Gipson (ankle), defensive lineman Micheal Clemons (ankle) and fullback Nick Bawden (calf) were all limited in practice on Friday and are questionable.
Special teams ace Justin Hardee (hamstring) was ruled out.