Already down three defensive backfield starters in CB D.J. Reed (groin), nickel back Michael Carter II (back) and safety Chuck Clark (IR, ankle), the Jets lost safety Tony Adams to a hamstring injury. Gardner, who was out of the game for Pickens’ second quarter TD, started the game with Brandin Echols at CB, Isaiah Oliver and Jalen Mills at safety. Ashtyn Davis replaced T. Adams (hamstring) in the second stanza only to go out with a head injury in the second half.
Things got away from the Jets in the second half. R. Wilson’s 37- and 21-yard completions to Pickens and TE Pat Freiermuth set up a Boswell chip shot from 21 yards out as the Steelers hopped ahead at 16-15.
“Going to this game momentum, we knew, was going to be a big part of it,” Ulbrich said. “Especially the environment we’re playing in. And in these games, you can’t give up those big plays because it’s just this huge shift in momentum.”
Then Rodgers threw a perfect ball to Garrett Wilson, but it snuck up on the third-year wideout and bounced off his chest into the waiting hands of Bishop. His 41-yard return to the NYJ 1-yard line set up R. Wilson’s 1-yard sneak and it was a 23-15 game. On the ensuing drive, Rodgers got the Jets to Steelers 17 but points proved elusive as Greg Zeurlein’s 35-yard field goal attempt was blocked. Thirteen plays later, R. Wilson hit Van Jefferson, son of Jets WR coach Shawn Jefferson, for a 4-yard TD and Pittsburgh suddenly had doubled up the Jets, 30-15. Najee Harris, who rushed for 102 yards on 21 carries, ending the scoring with a 10-yard score with 26 seconds left.
“We just weren’t taking our layups,” Hall said. “I feel like we were just making it hard for ourselves and that was really frustrating. We were still able to move the ball up and down the field but we just weren’t able to score points. It sucks when we get to the red zone and just aren’t able to convert how we need too. We have just got to be better there.”
Jetcetera
OL Xavier Newman, who replaced RT Alijah Vera-Tucker (ankle), left the field on a stretcher after landing hard following a Patrick Queen block on Beanie Bishop‘s second INT. … Wideout Davante Adams, acquired Tuesday from the Raiders in exchange for a 2025 conditional third-round pick, was on the field for 27 of the Jets’ 29 plays in the first half. For the game, Adams was targeted 9 times and had 30 yards on 3 receptions. … WR George Pickens was a productive vertical threat throughout, averaging 22.2 yards on his 5 catches for 111 yards yards.
Not only was safety Jalen Mills elevated from the practice squad for a second consecutive week but Mills got the start at safety alongside Tony Adams. Mills was credited with 7 tackles, 1 TFL and 1 PD … Breece Hall led the Jets with 103 receiving yards on 6 grabs. … The Jets’ 15-13 lead after two quarters was the team’s third halftime advantage over the Steelers in 13 games at Pittsburgh. … Pittsburgh rushed 36 times for 149 yards (4.1 yds/att) and 2 TDs while New York was limited to 54 yards on ground on its 15 attempts (3.6 yds/att). … The Jets (2-5) will look to snap their four-game losing streak next weekend, when they play in New England as they eye a divisional sweep over the Patriots (1-6).
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