EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsCHICAGO -- A look at what's happening around the New York Jets:1.Breakout star: When they drafted tight end Kenyon Sadiq with the 16th overall choice one year after taking a tight end in the second round, the Jets were criticized for making a "luxury" pick.It took only three games for Sadiq to go from luxury to necessity, especially with mounting injuries on offense."He's uncoverable," wide receiver Garrett Wilson said of the rookie, whose size (6-foot-3, 241 pounds) and speed (sub 4.4 seconds in the 40-yard dash) make him a tough cover.Opponents are trying to figure him out. They've used linebackers on him (28 pass routes), along with safeties (19 routes) and cornerbacks (17 routes), per Next Gen Stats, citing closest-defender metrics.Offensive coordinator Frank Reich has moved Sadiq around the formation, making it harder for defenses to get a bead on him. On his 24-yard touchdown catch last week, the former Oregon star was covered by Detroit Lions cornerback Roger McCreary out of the slot.Told that it's unusual for a tight end to beat a corner that far downfield, Sadiq replied, "I feel that's kind of expected. I wouldn't say expected, but that's something I feel like I should be able to do, just with my skill set."Reich didn't expect Sadiq to make an impact this quickly, not after missing training camp with a hernia injury, but "he's a football player." That's coachspeak for, "He's tough, smart and he gets it.""I think I'm more excited about that," Reich said, "than the big numbers."The numbers were big last Sunday -- seven receptions for 105 yards and his first NFL touchdown catch. (He had a rushing TD in Week 1.) With running back Breece Hall, wide receiver Adonai Mitchell and tight end Mason Taylor out Sunday against the Chicago Bears, the Jets may need another prolific day from Sadiq, whose energy fuels the offense."It's fun to watch him out there," Wilson said. "He's trying to jump over dudes and then, 'Oh, s---, didn't work. Guess I'll just keep running.' S--- like that gets me hyped, bro, I'm not going to lie. I'll be on the field just laughing like, 'Hell, yeah, bro!'"2. On the edge: Will McDonald IV's name is sure to make its way into the rumor mill as the Nov. 10 trade deadline approaches.The 2023 first-round pick drew interest last year, when he had a full-time role on defense. Now he's a rotational player whose playing time could be shrinking.Joseph Ossai's return last week created a five-man rotation at edge rusher, with rookie David Bailey, Kingsley Enagbare and Braiden McGregor manning the other spots. All but McGregor participated in more defensive snaps than McDonald, whose pass-rushing production has cratered after a promising Week 1 (no QB hits in the last two games).McDonald played 61% of the defensive snaps last season; he's down to 41%. It's a new scheme and a new position, which could explain his slow start.Edge rushers always have value, and perhaps there's a contending team that believes he still can be the player that made 10.5 sacks in 2024. Coach Aaron Glenn said McDonald is "a huge part of what we're doing," but that can always change.The Jets' willingness to trade him, or any player for that matter, could hinge on their place in the standings at the deadline. McDonald's fifth-year option was exercised, so he's signed through 2027 ($13.8 million guaranteed). An extension seems unlikely, so it might behoove them to get what they can before he walks in 2028.3. Rare lineup change: The offensive line will have a different look Sunday. For the first time in 21 games, the Jets won't have their five regular starters. They were the only team last season to start the same five in every game.Now left guard Dylan Parham (knee) is sidelined, disrupting the remarkable run of good fortune. Former Las Vegas Raiders starter Jordan Meredith, who missed the blitz pick-up last week that resulted in Geno Smith's sack-fumble, is expected to replace Parham.4. Bailey in coverage: Many fans probably are aghast whenever Bailey drops into pass coverage. The most accomplished pass rusher in the 2026 draft already has logged 15 coverage snaps, including eight last week. Yes, eight!Defensive coordinator Brian Duker defended the idea of dropping edge defenders, saying it adds "flexibility and creativity" to the scheme. He noted that Bailey was in coverage on Andre Cisco's sack on a safety blitz, claiming the wrinkle allowed them to overload one side of the Lions' protection.5. At the Mendoza line: Glenn reached the 20-game mark with only four wins. He's one of only nine coaches since 2000 to have a .200 winning percentage or worse in his first 20 games with the same team, according to ESPN Research.Statistically, the chances of a turnaround are remote. Of the previous eight, only one -- the Cincinnati Bengals' Zac Taylor -- achieved sustained success after his dreadful start. Jim Schwartz did get the Lions to the playoffs in his third year, but he followed that with two losing seasons and was a goner.It's worth noting that the Lions' Dan Campbell (.225) narrowly missed the list and has proved that a major reversal is possible. Glenn, who rode shotgun with Campbell as his defensive coordinator, has compared the current Jets to those Lions, even saying after last week's game that he's experiencing "dj vu."The Lions finished 9-8 in Campbell's second year, so Glenn's turnaround needs to start soon.6. Where's Wright? Nahshon Wright returns to Chicago, where he recorded five interceptions last season -- tied for most in the league by a cornerback. He has no big plays yet in New York; it's hard to make plays when you're not on the field.A healthy scratch last week, Wright has logged 18 snaps -- all on special teams, none on defense. It seems odd that the team with the longest interception drought (20 games) in NFL history can't find a spot for a ball hawk, but such is life in the Jets' secondary."You have to be a pro," Wright said. "It's not my first rodeo. It's not my first time being inactive."Wright is on a one-year, $3.5 million contract, fully guaranteed.7. Did you know? The Jets have one or fewer wins entering October for the ninth time in last 11 seasons, two more times than any other team since 2016.8. Not their kind of town: The Jets haven't won in Chicago since 1997, Bill Parcells' first year as coach. Since then, they are 0-3 at Soldier Field.9. Early return: Three games isn't enough time to draw a conclusion on a trade, but let's peek at the T'Vondre Sweat-Jermaine Johnson II swap anyway -- a rare player-for-player trade. Johnson is off to a poor start with the Tennessee Titans -- zero sacks, zero quarterback hits and a 0.0% pass rush win rate, per ESPN Analytics.Johnson, who likes to call himself an apex predator, has been anything but. Sweat's job is to stuff the run the run. He hasn't made any eye-popping plays, but he has seven run tackles in 38 runs snaps, per Next Gen Stats -- not a bad ratio for a nose tackle. Perhaps more telling: The Jets allow 3.7 yards per rush when he's on the field and 5.1 when he's not.Early trade analysis? Slight advantage, Jets.10. The Last Word: "I think you guys have seen 'Hard Knocks,' so just go back and watch that." -- Glenn on his relationship with Bears coach Ben Johnson, who served with Glenn on Campbell's Detroit staff. In 2022, the Lions were featured on HBO's "Hard Knocks," which showed highly competitive practices (with lots of trash-talking) between Glenn's defense and Johnson's offense.
