Sauce Gardner always brings a light, positive attitude with him to his weekly media availabilities. But some weeks have more edge to them than others, and that is the case this week, as captured in the combo numbers 4-and-11 and 0-and-2.
The 4-and-11 are the number of Jets listed on this week's initial injury report, including four of the five front line DBs. Gardner (groin) and S Andre Cisco (shoulder) both practiced full Wednesday, but starting S Tony Adams (hip) and frontline nickel Michael Carter II (shoulder) both did not practice. Just ahead: QB Baker Mayfield (5 TDs, 0 INTs, 98.6 passer rating), WR Mike Evans and company.
"I mean, we've got to get it done, by any means, no excuses," Gardner said after the Jets' midweek practice about how comfortable he and his fellow DBs are with their injury issues. "We've all got no choice but to be comfortable, know what I'm saying'?"
And the 0-and-2 goes without saying, but we'll say it anyway: The Jets have started the season with two home losses and now they go on the Florida leg of their '25 schedule, at the Buccaneers on Sunday and at the Dolphins on Monday night in Week 4.
And Serious Sauce didn't go away when addressing the Jets' record, and especially the 64 points they gave up to the Steeles and Bills, the most they've allowed in a season's first two games since 2017.
"Oh yeah, for sure, because of all the work we put in," he said about the sense of urgency already being felt in the Jets' locker room. "We feel like it's definitely a little bit more emphasis on us as a defense, especially coming off a game against Pittsburgh, which we thought we should've won, then we played Buffalo and it's not even that close.
"So it's definitely an emphasis for sure. and that's not thinking about just us," Gardner said, alluding to first-year head coach Aaren Glenn and hist staff as well. "We've got AG, somebody who's played, and there are no moral victories when it comes to us as players nor him. We've got to do everything for us as players and for the coaches. We've all got the same goal."
The Bucs should be ready and waiting for the Jets in their home opener at Raymond James Stadium, after winning their first two games on the road. The key players bring skillsets that the defense is familiar with. Mayfield, like Bills defending MVP Josh Allen and future Pro Football Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers, now with Pittsburgh, has become noted for producing some points but no turnovers. Not good news for the Jets defense, which has no takeaways in the early going.
"Baker presents a lot of problems," Gardner said. "He's very decisive, he trusts his receivers. I was watching the game [the Bucs' one-point win over the Texans on Monday night] and he can do it with his legs, too. So he's just a savvy quarterback and player for sure, and he's more athletic than I think people give him credit for."
And perhaps Gardner will be a traveling man again, as he was in the opener, matching up against new Steeler but veteran wideout DK Metcalf. No strategy has been revealed yet, but at Tampa, the Jets' task will be trying to keep a lid on Evans, who incredibly is seeking his 12th consecutive 1,000-yard receiving season in his 12th season with the Bucs and in the NFL.
"I used to watch him back then," said Sauce, no doubt making Evans feel even older than his 32 years. "It's just a great opportunity for me to be able to go against somebody like him. Yeah, he's ben doing it for a minute, and at a high level, too. So I'm looking forward to that."
One development he has no doubts about for the Green & White is who is stepping in at quarterback this week to duel Mayfield, Evans & Co. Glenn announced that Tyrod Taylor will start for Justin Fields, who remains in the team's concussion protocol.
"We always go against Tyrod in practice. We know he's more than capable of getting the job done," Gardner said. "We're not thinking a dropoff, that's not our mentality. The coaches believe in Tyrod and as players we believe in Tyrod We know he's a confident guy and a confident player.
"Our expectations on defense are just our expectations on defense, no matter what the offensive situation is. We don't want to be giving up a lot of points. We're confident in him and we've just got to execute on defense, regardless."
