The NY Jets have been without linebacker and defensive captain C.J. Mosley for the better part of the last two weeks as he continues to be sidelined with a toe injury. Mosley's status is again in question as the Jets approach their Week 4 game against the Denver Broncos this Sunday.
Mosley injured his toe in the first quarter of the Jets' Week 2 win over the Tennessee Titans and was held out on a short week in Week 3. There was some optimism that he could return to the field as soon as Week 4, but that's not looking particularly promising.
Mosley was held out of practice on Wednesday and did not participate again on Thursday. That's usually not a good indication that a player will be able to take the field on Sunday.
Jets head coach Robert Saleh told reporters this week that the team is being extremely "cautious" with Mosley's injury. They want to make sure his toe injury "doesn't become a problem" as the season progresses.
Mosley echoed that sentiment when speaking to reporters on Thursday, insisting that he's hoping to avoid making the same mistake that cost him most of his first season with the Jets in 2019.
"Obviously, I’d love to play, but I’m going to make sure (I’m) 100%. Obviously, it’s a long season and the worst thing I could do, which I’ve done before, is get out there too early and hurt myself."
- C.J. Mosley
Mosley infamously suffered a groin injury in his Jets debut all the way back in 2019. The five-time Pro Bowl linebacker exited the game in the third quarter and was subsequently held out the next five weeks before returning in Week 7.
Unfortunately, that proved to be a disastrous decision for Mosley, who re-injured his groin and would go on to miss the remainder of the season. Jets fans wouldn't see Mosley again until 2021 following his COVID-19 opt-out year.
The Jets want to avoid any situation where Mosley re-injures his toe and misses significant time, and the emergence of Jamien Sherwood has afforded them the luxury of waiting.
Sherwood has impressed in Mosley's absence over the last two weeks and is currently graded as Pro Football Focus's fifth-best coverage linebacker through three weeks. The Jets defense hasn't lost a step with Sherwood starting — some might argue it's even been better.
The Jets are making the right decision with their defensive captain, taking a cautious approach while Sherwood and Quincy Williams hold down the fort in the meantime. Mosley appears to be on board with that decision.
