FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — The New York Jets announced on Wednesday that special teams standout Irvin Charles has been placed on injured reserve for the remainder of the season following an ACL tear sustained in his knee during last weekend’s game.
Charles, who was in his third year with the Jets, sustained the injury while covering a punt in the fourth quarter of the team’s close 32-26 overtime defeat against the Miami Dolphins.
This season, Charles had been emerging as one of the top special teams players in the NFL, even facing triple teams on certain plays, including a notable encounter against Seattle two weeks ago. He had also made a significant contribution by blocking a punt earlier in the season.
In light of his loss, interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich praised Charles, referring to him as “an absolute bright spot for this team” in what has been a challenging season overall. He expressed belief that had Charles continued to perform at his current level for the rest of the season, he would have certainly earned a Pro Bowl selection for his contributions on special teams.
To fill the void left by Charles, the Jets promoted defensive back Jaylin Simpson from the practice squad of the Indianapolis Colts to the active roster.
Meanwhile, cornerback Sauce Gardner, who missed last week’s game against the Dolphins due to a hamstring issue, seems poised to make a return for Sunday’s match-up against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The two-time All-Pro participant was seen practicing fully on Wednesday and indicated his readiness to play.
However, the situation remains uncertain for running back Breece Hall, who is dealing with an MCL injury and hyperextension in his left knee that witnessed him sidelined in Miami. Hall did not participate in Wednesday’s practice.
Ulbrich mentioned that Hall is experiencing some struggles and emphasized the need to monitor his progress throughout the week, noting that Hall has been playing through pain for the past few weeks. “It’s a thing that it’s maybe not improving as much as he’d like at this point,” Ulbrich explained.
In Hall’s absence, rookies Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis stepped up well during the game against the Dolphins. Allen managed to gather 43 yards on 11 carries, while Davis achieved 40 yards on 10 attempts and also secured his first career rushing touchdown.
Additionally, Ulbrich mentioned that the team is still assessing the injury to kick returner Kene Nwangwu, who was forced out of the game after suffering a hand injury. This comes right after he was recognized as the AFC’s special teams player of the week for his impressive 99-yard kickoff return touchdown against the Seahawks.
On the injury front, right guard Alijah Vera-Tucker is dealing with an ankle injury, but Ulbrich expressed cautious optimism about his potential availability to play. Edge rusher Haason Reddick was also absent from practice due to illness.
Limited participation was noted for right tackle Morgan Moses (wrist), offensive lineman Xavier Newman (groin), as well as cornerbacks D.J. Reed (groin) and Brandin Echols (shoulder).
