The Jets, 1-5 and in need of a get-well-quick game, are at Jacksonville's steamy TIAA Bank Field today with an eye toward trying to get their first road victory over the season over the 3-4 Jaguars.
QB Sam Darnold is most in need of a rebound game after turning the ball over five times in the Green & White's Monday night loss to the Patriots. But before that, he had a strong first game back from his battle with mono in going 23-of-32 passing for 338 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the 24-22 victory over the Cowboys.
During the week, Darnold not only had to lick his wounds post-New England but also needed a procedure to remove a toenail on his foot, stepped on during the loss. But he said late in the week that his toe is "really good," he was full-go at practices Thursday and Friday, and he's ready to move forward.
"I'm going to go out there and do my job to the best of my ability. We're going to go out there and execute, there's no doubt about it," he said. "It's about bouncing back, and we've practiced really well this week. We just have to go out there and make it happen on Sunday."
Injuries will affect both teams in today's expected 86-degree heat (and 96-degree heat index), especially at linebacker.
The Jets will be missing C.J. Mosley (groin), Neville Hewitt (neck/knee) and Albert McClellan (concussion). With all three working at ILB, coordinator Gregg Williams is expected to turn to James Burgess, just called up from the practice squad but a player who has some NFL starting experience, multitasking veteran Brandon Copeland and productive rookie Blake Cashman to hold down the fort until Hewitt returns and Mosley's situation resolves itself.
See Top Photos from Pregame Before the Week 8 Matchup in Jacksonville
The Jaguars, meanwhile, have already declared out for the game starting LBs Najee Goode and Leon Jacobs and Quincy Williams, who started the Jags' first five games.
The Jets' full seven-player inactive list also includes starting LT Kelvin Beachum and rehabbing DL Henry Anderson and TE Chris Herndon:
- RB Trenton Cannon
- LB Neville Hewitt
- LB Albert McClellan
- LB C.J. Mosley
- T Kelvin Beachum
- TE Chris Herndon
- DL Henry Anderson
And these are the Jaguars' seven inactives:
- WR C.J. Board
- RB Devine Ozigbo
- LB Leon Jacobs
- LB Najee Goode
- LB Quincy Williams
- OL Brandon Thomas
- DT Dontavius Russell
The Jets are wearing their white jerseys and green pants for the third road game this season.
Brad Allen is today's referee. It's his ninth Jets game as referee since 2014. The Jets have gone 0-8 in those first eight games, with six of the eight one-score losses, most recently last year's 29-22 home loss to the Texans.
