NFL Thursday night: Former Auburn standout leads Jets defense

The New York Jets had to play the New England Patriots without captain C.J. Mosley in the middle of their defense on Thursday night. The former Theodore High School and Alabama standout sustained a toe injury during the Jets’ 24-17 victory over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.

But New York defeated the Patriots 24-3 with Jamien Sherwood assuming the play-calling duties for the Jets defense. New York limited New England to 139 yards and registered seven sacks.

Sherwood is a former Auburn safety who converted to linebacker with New York.

“I thought he did a good job,” Jets coach Robert Saleh said. “I thought the entire defense did. There’s always going to be things we can clean up, but overall, I thought he did a really nice job.”

Sherwood recorded a career-high 12 tackles, including three on special teams, on Sunday, and he had five tackles on Thursday night.

The game was the home-opener for New York. Last year, the Jets opened the season at home, and quarterback Aaron Rodgers sustained a season-ending injury on his first series with the team. This year, the four-time NFL MVP completed 27-of-35 passes for 281 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions.

The game featured the NFL debut of Drake Maye, the No. 3 pick in the NFL Draft. The former North Carolina quarterback played the Patriots’ final offensive series in relief of starter Jacoby Brissett and completed 4-of-8 passes for 22 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions and ran twice for 12 yards. Maye was sacked twice.

Seven other players from Alabama high schools and colleges got on the field during the New England-New York game:

· Patriots center Jake Andrews (Stanhope Elmore, Troy) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.

· Patriots wide receiver Javon Baker (Alabama) did not record any stats.

· Patriots defensive tackle Christian Barmore (Alabama) is on the non-football illness list and not eligible to play. A problem with blood clots has sidelined Barmore.

· Anfernee Jennings (Dadeville, Alabama) started at outside linebacker for the Patriots. Jennings made six tackles and recorded two tackles for loss.

· Jonathan Jones (Auburn) started at cornerback for the Patriots. Jones made seven tackles, broke up a pass in the end zone and forced a fumble, which went out of bounds.

· Marcus Jones (Enterprise, Troy) started at cornerback for the Pariots. Jones made three tackles and returned two punts for 12 yards.

· Jets safety Jaylen Key (UAB/Alabama) is on the practice squad and eligible to play.

· Patriots safety Dell Pettus (Sparkman, Troy) did not record any stats.

· Quincy Williams (Wenonah) started at linebacker for the Jets. Williams led New York with eight tackles and recorded one tackle for loss.

· Quinnen Williams (Wenonah, Alabama) started at defensive tackle for the Jets. Williams made two tackles, recorded one sack and registered three quarterback hits.

New York defeated New England 17-3 on the final Sunday of the 2023 regular season to break a 15-game losing streak to the Patriots. Thursday night’s victory gave the Jets back-to-back victories over New England for the first time since Nov. 13, 2008, and Sept. 20, 2009.

New England (1-2) plays the San Francisco 49ers at 3:05 p.m. CDT Sept. 29 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. New York (2-1) plays the Denver Broncos at noon Sept. 29 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.