Interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich will coach against a familiar foe when the Jets host the Colts Sunday at MetLife Stadium.
After Ulbrich's retirement from playing in 2009, he got his start in coaching in 2010 as an assistant special team coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks. Ulbrich was in Seattle (2010-11) at the same time as Colts defensive coordinator Gus Bradley, who occupied the same role for the Seahawks as he does now in Indianapolis.
Bradley has a reputation of rushing four defenders and playing Cover 3. His current Colts defense is No. 6 in the league in takeaways (17) and has allowed 22.3 points per game.
"He teaches great fundamentals and not a lot of scheme," Ulbrich said. "And that is intentional because they want to do what they do at the highest possible level. They play with great effort and technique, and they're very consistent in all that they do."
On defense, the Jets prepared two game plans at the start of the week, one for Colts QBs Joe Flacco, who has started the last two games, and one for second-year dual-threat QB Anthony Richardson, who was named the Colts' starter Wednesday after being benched in Week 9.
Richardson, the No. 5 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, has 4 pass touchdowns and 7 interceptions in six starts this season (3-3) and has completed just 44% of his passes for 958 yards. At 6-4, 244 pounds, he has rushed 66 times for 378 yards (5.7 YPA) and 5 touchdowns over 10 career games. In addition, Richarson has been tough to bring down, taking just 9 sacks this season.
"He is a great challenge in a lot of different ways including his arm and his legs," Ulbrich said. "I know he struggled a bit with accuracy, but at the same time, he's got some explosive plays out there too. He's got great arm strength. He has great accuracy and his timing is improving."
Rookie Fashanu to Start at LT
Jets rookie Olu Fashanu will make his first career start at tackle Sunday versus the Colts in place of Tyron Smith. The 14-year veteran sustained a neck injury during last Sunday's loss to the Cardinals. Smith did not practice this week and was ruled out Friday.
Fashanu got his first taste playing left tackle against Arizona. He played 33 snaps in relief of Smith and allowed 2 pressures, 2 hurries and 0 sacks according to Pro Football Focus. He started 2 games at right tackle in Weeks 4 and 5 (159 snaps) and appeared at right guard in Week 9 (37 snaps).
"I thought he played well last week," Ulbrich said. "He had his rookie moments for sure. He's going to have some bumps in the road here and there, but I thought he showed a ton of promise. He's a guy that we thank God we got because we knew we were going to potentially need him this year."
Playing in place of the decorated Smith and protecting the blindside of future Hall of Fame QB Aaron Rodgers, Fashanu feels prepared to step up against the Colts.
"All of this is definitely big responsibility, but I try not to think about it like that," Fashanu said. "We all already play in a very high-pressure environment, and I have proved that I can play. I don't need to be putting any more pressure on myself than there already is. I am ready to roll."
In other injury news, the Jets expect to get S Chuck Clark (ankle), who has spent the last four weeks on IR, back in the lineup. LB C.J. Mosley (neck) was ruled out and will be reevaluated during the bye week.
Four Kickers in Four Weeks
The Jets will turn to their fourth different kicker in as many weeks when they host the Colts Sunday. Kicker Anders Carlson, whom the Jets added to the practice squad on Nov. 8, will make his debut with the Green & White.
In Weeks 8-10, the Jets went with Greg Zuerlein at New England, Riley Patterson at home vs. Houston and Spencer Shrader at Arizona, respectively. Shrader, a practice squad elevation last Saturday, connected on both his field goal attempts against the Cardinals. But the Chiefs signed Shrader late Thursday afternoon, and he will kick for Kansas City against the Bills Sunday in Buffalo. Moments before Shrader's departure, special teams coordinator Brant Boyer commented on the kicking carousel to date.
"We've been through this a couple of times before since I've been here," Boyer said. "Obviously, it's not easy. But we're working through that stuff and we're trying to the best we can and trying to find the best guys and everything like that."
Carlson, a sixth-round pick of the Packers out of Auburn in 2023, signed with the 49ers' practice squad in October and made two starts this season. In those games, Carlson was 5-for-5 on field goals – including a 55 yarder – and 3-for-4 on extra points. In 2022, he started all 17 games for Green Bay and made 27-of-33 field goal attempts and 34-of-39 extra points.
"Not ideal by any means, but we have great confidence in Anders," said HC Jeff Ulbrich, who pointed to roster management as the reason why Shrader wasn't added to the active roster.
Jets kickers have made 11 of their 17 FGA this season and converted on 16 of 17 PATs. Zuerlein, who was 11 of 17 on his FGA, was placed on injured reserve on Oct. 30.
"Well, we're trying to take guys who can make kicks," Boyer said. "That's what it comes down to. You're looking for somebody with some clutch in him hopefully and some guys who don't get rattled and guys with good legs who can kick through the wind and stuff that we face here."
