Injury Report: Zuerlein among Three Jets Questionable to Face Browns on TNF
There were no significant surprises on the New York Jets’ final injury report prior to the Thursday Night Football matchup in Cleveland. As expected, quarterback Zach Wilson and tight end Jeremy Ruckert were officially ruled out as both players remain in concussion protocol. While veteran Trevor Siemian will make his second straight start in place of Wilson, seventh-round rookie tight end Zack Kuntz has been signed to the 53-man roster to offset Ruckert’s unavailability. Three Jets are listed as questionable to face the Browns on December 28. The most-concerning unknown of the bunch is Week 16 hero Greg Zuerlein. The 36-year-old kicker, who nailed the game-winning 54-yard field goal with 00:05 remaining against Washington, is nursing a sore right quad. He was limited in practice on Wednesday after not participating Tuesday. The Jets added Austin Seibert to the Practice Squad in case a substitute kicker is needed.
Rookie running back Israel Abanikanda has been limited throughout the practice week by an ankle injury. Veteran receiver Allen Lazard is also questionable after popping up with an illness on Wednesday. Cleveland will definitely be without their starting place kicker as Dustin Hopkins has been sidelined due to a hamstring injury. The Browns picked up Riley Patterson to kick on Thursday night in his absence. Cleveland’s punter Corey Bojorquez is in jeopardy of missing the TNF appearance, too, having not practiced all week due to a quad injury. He is officially doubtful to dress. The team added Matt Haack to their Practice Squad as insurance.
JETS’ FINAL INJURY REPORT WEDNESDAY QB Aaron Rodgers (Achilles) — DNP (Game: OUT) TE Jeremy Ruckert (concussion) — DNP (Game: OUT) QB Zach Wilson (concussion) — DNP (Game: OUT) RB Israel Abanikanda (ankle) — LP (Game: Questionable) WR Allen Lazard (illness) — DNP (Game: Questionable) K Greg Zuerlein (right quad) — LP (Game: Questionable) DB Ashtyn Davis (abdominal) — FP (Game: – ) DL John Franklin-Myers (ankle / groin) — FP (Game: – ) DB Justin Hardee (foot) — FP (Game: – ) QB Trevor Siemian (right elbow) — FP (Game: – )
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Three Key Jets Status Ahead Of Thursday Night Showdown With Browns
The playoffs are so close, all of Cleveland can taste it. If the Browns can take down the Jets on Thursday Night Football to improve to 11-5, they would clinch a playoff berth for the second time in four years.
New York has nothing left to play for except to attempt to play spoiler for Cleveland. Eliminated from the playoffs several weeks back, 2023 was a season of big dreams for the Big Apple, with Aaron Rodgers joining the fold in the offseason, fans were dreaming of a Lombardi Trophy. That all came crashing down when Rodgers ruptured his Achilles four plays into his Jets tenure.
At 6-9 though, they’re no pushover on the field, largely because of their dominant defense. Here are some key stats to know before the Jets take the field against the Browns in prime time.
1) Something Isn’t Right
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For the season, New York boasts one of the stingiest red zone defenses in the NFL giving up touchdowns just 48-percent of the time when opponents make it inside the 20. However, a major discrepancy has emerged in recent weeks, where opposing teams are now finding the end zone on 70-percent of their red zone trips. Cleveland needs to keep that going to avoid letting the Jets keep it close, which is a recipe for disaster. Plus, with Dustin Hopkins likely unavailable the Browns may feel more inclined to go for six anyway.
2) Feast or Famine
The Jets have played in eight games decided by one score, versus seven that became blowouts. Half of those eight were wins, proving that they have thrived at dragging teams into the mud with them and coming out victorious. Conversely, of the seven games that ended up lopsided only two ended with them pulling away from an opponent to win by more than one score. They just don’t have the offensive prowess to do that consistently, but it’s happened a couple times, most recently in the teams 30-6 win over the Texans, which netted quarterback, Zach Wilson AFC offensive player of the week recognition. The Browns won’t face Wilson tonight, but they need to avoid playing with fire by letting New York stay within striking distance.
