FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Linebacker C.J. Mosley of the New York Jets is experiencing issues with a herniated disk in his neck, which will keep him sidelined for a fourth consecutive game. As of Friday, Mosley indicated that surgery is not required to address the injury, and he is categorized as “day to day.” Encouragingly, he managed to participate in some practice activities this week while the team readies for their matchup against Indianapolis on Sunday. Interim coach Jeff Ulbrich expressed hope that Mosley could make a return following the team’s upcoming bye week.
“If I’m at 100%, then yes,” Mosley stated regarding his potential return. “Otherwise, I likely won’t be back until then.” The injury, which Mosley referred to as a “crazy injury,” occurred shortly after he delivered a pregame address to his teammates before the Jets’ game against New England on October 27.
“While preparing for positional drills during warmup, I felt a burning sensation in the back of my neck,” Mosley reminisced. “After that, everything just locked up.” The 32-year-old has been advised by doctors to rest during the initial week following the injury and has been engaging in physical therapy since then. Recently, he received both an epidural injection and a facet block injection to help manage the pain.
This season has already been challenging for Mosley, a captain and Pro Bowl player from last year, as he has missed three games previously due to a toe injury. “It’s disappointing from my viewpoint,” he remarked, expressing his eagerness to be on the field contributing regardless of the game’s outcome. “This sport is purely about production; sitting on the sidelines limits what you can do to help the team.”
With Mosley out, Jamien Sherwood has stepped in as the defensive play caller, showcasing impressive performance with a career-high 17 tackles last week against Arizona. Mosley expressed his determination to return to action, whether in the current season or the next.
“I have played a significant amount of football, so my absence won’t be as detrimental to my career compared to someone else who might need the playing time,” he said. “At the end of the day, it’s about safety. When I go home, I’m just Clinton Mosley, not just C.J., the football player.”
He added that the experience of recently welcoming a daughter into his life has shifted his perspective. “Since the injury, any time I look down, I feel neck pain, which leads me to realize there’s so much more to life beyond football. I want to ensure that after I’m done playing, I’m in good condition.”
In other team news, due to left tackle Tyron Smith being ruled out with a neck issue, rookie first-round pick Olu Fashanu will take over in his position. Fashanu has previously filled in at left tackle when Smith exited during the game against Arizona and has also started two games at right tackle during Morgan Moses’s absence. Though he has played different positions, Fashanu’s primary role has been left tackle, which he played exclusively at Penn State.
“I try to keep things in perspective, but I understand the significance,” Fashanu noted about his start. “It’s great to play the position I’m comfortable with and to be a part of the team.” Coach Ulbrich stated that Smith’s injury is still under assessment, and a move to injured reserve remains a possibility. Smith is in his first year with the Jets after spending 13 seasons at Dallas.
In kicker news, Anders Carlson will be the Jets’ fourth kicker this season following the signing of Spencer Shrader to the Kansas City practice squad on Thursday. Carlson, who is also part of the practice squad, previously played with San Francisco where he successfully made 5 of 5 field goal attempts and 3 of 4 extra point attempts while stepping in for injured players.
Reflecting on the day he learned about Shrader’s departure, Carlson described it as “a whirlwind.” “It was a hectic day as any of us could have been sent elsewhere,” he commented. “I’m thrilled to be here and seizing every opportunity that arises.”