Down four starters in the secondary – CB D.J. Reed (groin), S Chuck Clark (ankle), nickel CB Michael Carter II (back) and S Tony Adams (injured hamstring in the second quarter) – against the Steelers last Sunday, interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich and the Jets leaned on a pair of versatile veterans in DB Isaiah Oliver and S Jalen Mills.

With uncertainty surrounding the starters' health heading into Week 8, Ulbrich's squad plans to adopt the next-man-up mentality again for Sunday's game against the Patriots.

"Any time you lose your guys there's a challenge, but one of the things we've done a good job with here is getting the next man ready," senior defensive assistant and cornerbacks coach Tony Oden said. "We feel good about all of our guys that are non-starters right now. They prepare like starters. We expect them to play like starters."

Oliver, drafted by the Falcons in the second round (No. 58) in 2018, overlapped with Ulbrich for three seasons Atlanta. Oliver has played outside corner, nickel and safety throughout his seven-year career and in 17 games for the 49ers last season (6 starts), he took most of his reps at nickel (424 snaps) compared to outside corner (99) and safety (67).

When the Jets signed Oliver during the offseason, the coaching staff told him they planned to use convert him to safety. Through his first seven games in green and white, he's taken 122 snaps at nickel, 32 at safety and 20 at outside CB. He's totaled 13 tackles, 1 sack, 1 tackle for loss and a pass breakup in the end zone versus the Bills in Week 6.

"I'm definitely glad we have [Oliver]," Oden said. "He's probably one of the best pros that I've been around, and I hate to say that very blanket statement because I've been around a lot of great players, but for a guy that can play corner, safety, dime, nickel, with zero hesitation, zero flinch in the game. He has a great understanding of what we want done."

Oliver added: "It has taken a lot of reps over the long haul and over the last few years be ready to play whenever it is needed. For example, a few years ago I would not have necessarily been able to go out there and do what I am doing now. I needed a lot of reps and football knowledge. Now I just need to understand the gameplan, understand what the defense is seeing, and now it does matter if I am at nickel, cornerback or safety."

Adams, who has started all 7 games this season, has not practiced this week. If the third-year safety out of Illinois can't go, Oliver could be slated to make his first start at safety.

"[Oliver] can communicate and he's phenomenal in the meeting room with the energy that he brings," Oden said. "He is great with communication bouncing back and forth between room to room on an ask needed basis and also changing within a game."

Mills, despite signing with the Jets practice squad in Week 4, started at safety, opposite Adams, last week and finished second on the team with 8 tackles. In two games with the Green & White, he has 9 tackles, 1 tackle for loss and a pass defense. With Clark on injured reserve, it's likely he will start again.

Before New York, Mills played five seasons with Eagles and three with the Patriots. In 2017 with Philadelphia, Mills started three playoff games including a 41-33 victory over the Patriots in Super Bowl LII. Despite only being in his fifth week with Jets defense, his experience has helped him make a smooth transition.

"[Mills] has got up to speed really quickly and good thing because we needed him last game in a big way," Oliver said. "He is a super smart player, has great instincts and just knows a lot of ball. Most importantly he has played a lot of ball, and we have been able to lean on in him in the DB room."

Mills added: "I think the coaching staff did a really good job. Every morning, I was in one-on-one meetings, understanding the details of the playbook, doing walkthrough practices and I feel like I pretty much have a good grasp of the defense."

The Jets secondary could be closer to full strength against the Patriots as Reed and Carter II were full participants in Thursday's practice. If they suit up, it will be the first game since Week 4 that the Jets would be at full strength at cornerback. If one, or both, can't go, the Jets could have more shuffling in the secondary. The Jets could also be without Ashtyn Davis, who is in concussion protocol and has not practiced this week.

In addition to Oliver, the Jets have another player who has experience at cornerback and safety in second-year pro Jarrick Bernard-Converse, who played both positions over his college career at Oklahoma State and LSU. Bernard-Converse, who had a nice training camp, played safety last year for the Jets before the staff moved him back to CB.

"JBC is another guy that has been tasked with learning a lot of positions," Oliver said. "I have been talking to him a lot and he has been asking a lot questions. He has got what I takes to player cornerback and safety and I am really excited for him to get his opportunities."