The Jets are dealing with multiple injuries as they prepare for their second matchup this season against their AFC East rival New England.
On the positive side, cornerback D.J. Reed (groin) will be a full participant in Wednesday's walk through after he did not play against the Steelers ,and nickel CB Michael Carter II (back) will be a limited participant. Carter has not played since Week 4.
But the secondary, already down starting safety Chuck Clark (ankle/Injured Reserve), could be without its other starter at safety in Tony Adams (hamstring) and reserve S Ashtyn Davis (concussion). Each sustained their injury Sunday night and neither will practice Wednesday.
"Tell you truth, last week was the first time I've ever been through anything like that in my life," interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich said of the injuries to the secondary. "Virtually every starter, even with Sauce [Gardner] missing a series there, was down. Now saying that, very fortunate that we have some backups that came in and did a did a good job and held their own. We're fortunate we built good depth on this roster.
"I think Jalen Mills is a huge testament to the coaching staff, especially [safeties coach] Marquand Manuel to get a guy ready in two-and-a-half weeks. I mean, [Mills] started and played every single snap. Not just played, but played at a high level, in my opinion."
Mills, whose 8 tackles against the Steelers ranked second on the team, was signed to the active roster Wednesday after he was elevated from the practice squad for each of the last two games.
Right guard Alijah Vera-Tucker (ankle) and DT Leki Fotu (knee) also won't practice Wednesday. Right tackle Morgan Moses (knee), LB Quincy Williams (neck), DE Will McDonald IV (shoulder), WR Allen Lazard (chest) and QB Aaron Rodgers (knee/hamstring) will be limited. Rodgers' hamstring injury is new.
"Something that kind of flared up this past game," Ulbrich said. "They're going to assess it all week long. He's going to treat his butt off like he always does and I don't anticipate this affecting him playing."
Wednesday will be the first time Jets pass rusher Haason Reddick will take the field with his new team, but Ulbrich said the staff will have a better understanding Thursday, after a full-speed practice, if Reddick will make his Jets debut Sunday.
"I would anticipate he plays," Ulbrich said. "He's an experienced player, he's played in a similar defense to ours. As far as the schematic stuff that he's got to get caught up on, I don't think that's going to be huge struggle for him. So, now it's just seeing where he's at, physically."
The Jets (2-5) have lost four straight games — their last win came in Week 3, a 24-3 decision over the Patriots at MetLife Stadium. After losing three games by a total of 10 points, the Green & White fell by 37-15 at Pittsburgh, but Ulbrich is not concerned about his team throwing in the towel.
"Like a lot of teams around this league, just in current American sport period, when adversity hits, you see a lot of teams that splinter, start pointing the finger and things start to not only go bad on the field but off the field," Ulbrich said. "I have not felt that at all with this team. I felt as adversity has hit, we've really started to respond in the right way.
"And as opposed to pointing fingers, pointing the finger at ourselves. Every man in that locker room and every coach in that coaching staff is doing that right now. What can we all do collectively to get better and win some games around here.? It's been tested. I really believe sometimes adversity is a gift because you really find out who you're dealing with and I think the team, the coaching staff is responding the right way."
