The Jets' already young and thin secondary looks to be getting younger and thinner.
Starting cornerback Bless Austin has a neck injury and will undergo an MRI, Adam Gase said Thursday. The second-year corner didn't practice and his availability for Sunday's game against the Chargers is in doubt.
This news comes two days after the Jets released veteran cornerback Pierre Desir and placed nickel back Brian Poole on injured reserve. He will have season-ending shoulder surgery.
If Austin can't play, that leaves rookies Bryce Hall, Lamar Jackson, Javelin Guidry, newly acquired Corey Ballentine and Arthur Maulet as the cornerbacks against some big-time playmakers on the Chargers. Rookie Ashtyn Davis and veteran Marcus Maye are the safeties.
"We got real young, real fast," Gase said on a Zoom call. "We'll figure it out. We'll be testing some guys out. See who can do what."
The Jets (0-9) are the NFL's only winless team, and have started their youth movement, giving more playing time to first- and second-year players. So it's not necessarily a bad thing since they are in full-blown evaluation mode.
It's possible that the Jets could start three rookies in the defensive backfield with Hall and either Jackson or Guidry at corner and Davis at safety.
The Chargers start a rookie quarterback, but Justin Herbert has played well. And he's got talented receivers. Pro Bowl receiver Keenan Allen, big, strong Mike Williams and tight end Hunter Henry will be a handful for this young, inexperienced group.
"Let's go, man," Gase said. "We got Keenan Allen and Mike Williams and Hunter Henry to worry about. We'll be good to go."
The cornerback position was a concern coming into this season, and this situation speaks to general manager Joe Douglas not doing enough to shore up a position of need.
The Jets traded for Quincy Wilson during the draft and signed Desir in free agency. Wilson didn't work out and was waived two weeks ago. Desir was a disappointment and was benched in his first game. On Tuesday, the Jets cut ties with Desir in part to give Hall more of a chance.
The plan was to play Hall alongside Austin, a sixth-round pick last year who started seven of the eight games he's played this season. But the Austin injury just popped up.
Austin practiced Wednesday, without pads. Gase doesn't know how Austin got hurt. He said the medical staff told him that Austin couldn't practice Thursday. Gase said it's up to the personnel department when asked if there is any thought of bringing Desir back now.
"We're low on numbers," Gase said. "We'll have to move some guys around, have to play some safeties out there."
Gase said the Jets have had some discussions about playing Davis at cornerback. But the Jets need him at safety since Bradley McDougald was placed on IR last month.
Davis said it will be a challenge on Sunday and that the secondary needs to talk and make sure everyone is on the same page.
"Communication is going to be our biggest thing," Davis said, "especially with guys playing more than they have and new guys filling in. Even me, this is only my third time starting."
The Jets just picked up Ballentine, the former Giant. The initial plan was to use the second-year player on special teams and see if they can mix Ballentine in on defense. But he may have to pick up Gregg Williams' schemes really quick.
Jackson started two games earlier this season, but he hasn't played on defense in the last three games. Guidry has only played one defensive snap.
