PITTSBURGH — The Jets’ secondary depth got stretched to the limit on Sunday night.
They entered the game down three starters in the secondary and then lost another starter and a backup during the game.
Cornerback D.J. Reed was inactive for the game with a groin injury.
The Jets had listed him as questionable for the game. Reed injured the groin in last Monday’s loss to the Bills. Michael Carter II had been declared out on Friday with a back injury.
Safety Chuck Clark went on injured reserve after suffering a high-ankle sprain in the Bills game.
During the game, the Jets lost safety Tony Adams to a hamstring injury and backup safety Ashtyn Davis to a concussion.
That left Sauce Gardner as the only Jets starting defensive back left in the game. During the second half, the Jets had Kendall Sheffield, a practice squad elevation, playing meaningful minutes.
Brandin Echols started in place of Reed. Isaiah Oliver started at nickel corner in place of Carter, but had to move to safety after Adams and Davis were both injured.
Jalen Mills, who also was elevated from the practice squad, was a surprise starter at safety in place of Clark.
Adams left the game at halftime and then Davis left the game to be evaluated for a concussion in the third quarter and did not return.
The Jets lost two offensive linemen during the game, too. Starting right guard Alijah Vera-Tucker left the game in the first half with an ankle injury and did not return. His replacement Xavier Newman suffered a scary looking injury in the third quarter.
He was blocked by Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen after an Aaron Rodgers interception and hit the ground hard. He was placed on a backboard and carted off the field.
Ulbrich said Newman went to a local hospital and the tests came back negative and Newman would be able to fly home with the Jets.
“Thank the lord the tests came back negative,” Ulbrich said. “He’s traveling back with the team. That’s a huge relief.”
There has been speculation that WR Mike Williams might be traded after the team acquired Davante Adams.
There is a belief around the NFL that Williams might wind up getting traded to the Steelers but the Jets were not going to trade him before Sunday’s game.
Williams came up with one huge catch in the game on a fourth down.
The other inactives besides Reed and Carter were: OT Carter Warren, OT Max Mitchell, RB Israel Abanikanda, DE Braiden McGregor and WR Malachi Corley.
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