FLORHAM PARK, NJ – New York Jets'The defensive shake-up continues.
In addition to trading key players Gardner sauce And Quinnen WilliamsJets demote former All-Pro linebacker Quincy Williams.
“My coaches told me I'm not playing well, that I've been playing poorly since training camp,” Williams told ESPN Wednesday after practice.
Williams, who said coaches informed him Monday, called himself a “non-starting Jet.” He expects to be active against Cleveland Brownsbut he is unsure of his role.
“I have no idea,” he said.
It's been a week of turmoil for the Jets (1-7), who returned to work Wednesday after blockbusters at the trade deadline — Gardner Indianapolis Colts; Williams in Dallas Cowboys.
Within 24 hours, Quincy Williams lost my starting job and lost my little brother on the other team. There were rumors that Quincy was also involved in the trade. There were rumors that he was part of a package deal with his brother, but the Cowboys addressed their need for a linebacker by trading him for Logan Wilsonpreviously from Cincinnati Bengals.
Rookie Kiko Mauigoa is the best candidate to replace Williams in the lineup.
Williams, 29, is in the final year of his contract. He has started 65 games for the Jets starting in 2021. He was a first-team All-Pro in 2023, parlaying that success into a three-year, $18 million contract.
In four games this season, he has 22 tackles, three tackles for loss and one sack. Williams, who missed four games with a shoulder injury, was active in the final game, making two pass breakups and one tackle for loss in a Week 8 win over the Bengals.
“I'm not crazy about it, but it's one of those things that I'm not mad at because they told me what I need to improve on,” Williams said, adding that coaches want him to improve his hand skills and play with a slower mentality.
Coach Aaron Glenn is trying to change the defense on the fly. The Gardner-Williams trade rocked the locker room, with players saying they were stunned by Tuesday's news. Allen Lazard said he received a message from a friend that simply said “OMG” and the recipient said he immediately checked social media and read about the deals.
“[Quinnen Williams] was such a huge pillar in the foundation of this locker room and he epitomized what it means to be a Jet,” Lazard said.
The deals put Glenn in a delicate position. The organization is planning for the future – the two trades netted three future first-round picks – but Glenn's job is to win games now. He is confident that motivation will not be a problem in the locker room.
His message to long-suffering fans suggests he's already thinking about what's next for this season. Before Week 1, he said he wanted the Jets to be a team the fans could be proud of. This, he said, will determine a successful season.
On Wednesday, he made the amendments, raising eyebrows.
“I want the fans to be proud of this team, but again, I never said they would be proud of this team right now,” Glenn said.
As expected, the players outlined the company's position on the deals. They said it pained them to see two talented teammates traded, but they repeated what Glenn told them at the team's morning meeting: The only thing that is constant is change in the NFL, and with that change comes opportunity.
“That's the nature of business”, running back Brice Hall said. “[We] I lost two really good players, two people I'm really friends with. It sucks, but it is what it is.”
The Jets reportedly considered offers for Hall but decided to keep him. Hall said he never asked for a trade, but there were reports he would welcome one. He didn't deny it outright, saying his only focus on Sunday was the Browns. He is in the final year of his rookie contract and could leave as a free agent.
“I think I've said it a million times, over and over again, Brees wasn't the guy I wanted to get rid of,” Glenn said. “I mean, he's a damn good player.”
It's surprising the Jets didn't trade Quincy Williams given their plans to bench him. Williams said he had “mixed emotions” about the trade deadline. He understood the reason for his brother's profession.
“When we talked, we talked about this being a new beginning,” Quincy said. “I’m happy for Sauce and Quinnen because they’re starting a new life and everything and changing their perspective and everything.”
In other developments, wide receiver Garrett Wilsonmissed the last two games with a knee injury, has practiced limitedly and is tipped to return on Sunday.
The Jets still haven't named a starting quarterback. Said Justin Fields: “Let's see”.
