Throughout the season, NewYorkJets.com will provide a Stock Report focusing on the Jets' upcoming matchup.
This week's report features players and/or themes that are trending before the Green & White take on Atlanta Falcons at MetLife Stadium on Sunday.
š Jets' Interior Defensive Line
The Jets limited the NFL's best rushing team of the last 3 seasons, the Baltimore Ravens, who have averaged 162.8 yards per game on the ground since 2022 with All-Pro QB Lamar Jackson, to 98 yards in Week 12.
The effort was fueled by the Jets' interior D-linemen Harrison Phillips and Jowon Briggs. Phillips, traded to the Jets from the Vikings during training camp, has been playing with an injured foot, but still managed 8 tackles, second most on the team, and 1 TFL in the 23-10 loss.
Briggs, traded to the Jets from the Browns during August, has been a welcome addition as well. He registered a sack of Jackson, 5 total tackles and 1 QB hit. Briggs, 24, has been a diamond in the rough for GM Darren Mougey. On the season, Briggs has 3 sacks, 4 TFL and 1 forced fumble.
"I would be remiss not to mention our interior guys: Jowon Briggs and Harrison [Phillips]," defensive coordinator Steve Wilks said Friday. "I think that's really where it starts with those guys with the push inside, which now is going to elevate JJ [ Jermaine Johnson] and Will McDonald IV's play on the outside."
š Falcons' Offense
The Falcons snapped a 5-game losing streak with a victory over the Saints, 24-10, last Sunday. Veteran QB Kirk Cousins made his second start of the season following a season-ending knee injury to second-year signal caller Michael Penix Jr.
Cousins is 1-1 as Atlanta's starter this season, however, their offensive unit has not had the same explosiveness it did to begin the year with Penix.
During Atlanta's 3-2 start with Penix, the offense averaged 378.9 total yards per game and 25 points per game. In Cousin's two starts the Falcons are averaging a little more than 250 yards per game and fewer than 20 points per game. In addition, Cousins, 37, will likely be without his No. 1 receiver Drake London, who missed last week with a knee injury and has yet to practice this week.
"What we have got to do this week is collapse the pocket on Cousins," DC Steve Wilks said. "Last week was totally different, you didn't want Lamar [Jackson] getting outside of the pocket. Now we want to collapse the pocket and get Cousins outside because we feel like we have the speed to be able to run him down."
š Jets Injuries
The Jets first two injury reports of the week -- Wednesday and Thursday -- listed one player who missed practice due to injury, DL Harrison Phillips, who has a foot injury.
One, is the fewest number of players on a single Jets injury report all season. And additionally, HC Aaron Glenn told reporters Wednesday that he expects Phillps to be "just fine."
"When it comes to injuries, the only person of note is Harrison," Glenn said. "But I expect him to be a part of practice going into the later part of this week and that's the only injury of note."
