The Jets won't play another game before the NFL's Trade Deadline. After securing their first victory with a gritty 39-38 comeback win over the Cincinnati Bengals last Sunday, the Jets head into their bye week knowing there likely will be inquiries on some of their players in the days ahead.
"Everybody listens, but that doesn't mean that you act on anything," HC Aaron Glenn. "You know, when someone calls, you listen, but actions speaks louder than words, you know, so I will just put it like that."
Glenn is instilling a culture and his players were able to get over the hump in Cincinnati with a fantastic finish, outscoring the Bengals 23-7 with an impressive fourth quarter.
"It was awesome," said DT Harrison Phillips. "It was really fun to see a different side of my teammates that I've never gotten to see and that's how you react after a win. So, a lot of smiles, a lot of joking. It was a much more enjoyable plane ride than some of our other few and I think, more than anything, it just reinstates everything that we are doing here has purpose, and there's a goal in sight for us."
GM Darren Mougey has already been active on the trade front, acquiring Phillips from the Vikings, DT Jowon Briggs from the Browns and CB Jarvis Brownlee Jr. from the Titans, while sending DT Derrick Nnadi back to the Chiefs. On Wednesday, Mougey agreed to a deal with the Philadelphia Eagles that will bring WR John Metchie III to New York while nickel CB Michael Carter is headed to Philly in an exchange that included a swap of late-round draft picks. Phillips has started in all eight games and the veteran run-plugger has 21 tackles. Briggs, a rotational player on the defensive interior, has 12 tackles and 2 sacks. Brownlee, who has logged 136 defensive snaps over four games with the Green & White, had 7 tackles against the Bengals and came up big in coverage as the defense got the stops they needed.
"That's the reason why he's here," Glenn said of Brownlee. "And, again, I give a lot of credit to Mouge and our personnel department of seeking out the guys that really fit who we are and what we're trying to do as a team and that really has the traits that we're looking for when it comes to players, so I don't want to say I'm surprised. But I am happy that the things we thought that he can do he's out there doing for us to help us win games."
In addition to not turning the ball over last week while amassing 502 yards of total offense, the Jets are playing more disciplined football. They had 4 penalties against Cincinnati for 25 marked off yards after combining for 7 penalties and 41 yards marked off in one-possession losses to Carolina (5 for 26) and Denver (2 for 15), respectively.
"We had a limited number of penalties and that's on the offensive and defensive side and that's been three games in a row for the most part," Glenn said. "I think we only had 11 penalties in the last three games which averages out to about 3.6 penalties a game, so that's something that we've been working on for quite a bit. So, I thought that was outstanding."
On the injury front, rookie LB Kiko Mauigoa is in concussion protocol while ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported this week that veteran S Andre Cisco sustained a torn pectoral against the Bengals and will be out indefinitely. If Cisco misses time, rookie Malachi Moore will likely be paired with Tony Adams. A fourth-year veteran, Adams has started four games this season and has 20 tackles.
With the NFL's Trade Deadline set for Tuesday Nov. 4 at 4 p.m. ET, the Jets won't line up in game action again until their Nov. 9 home date against the Cleveland Browns (2-6). While Glenn and his coaching staff self-scout, Mougey and the personnel department will determine if any proposals can aid the current team or if the acquisition of future assets can speed up the process for a team that is building.
