The commerce of Sauce Gardner to the Colts despatched shockwaves by the Jets locker room this week.
Nevertheless it additionally opened up a pathway for rookie Azareye’h Thomas, who now will slide into Gardner’s beginning cornerback spot.
“It’s a blessing,” Thomas mentioned. “It’s one thing you develop up eager to do. Everyone needs to get to the Nationwide Soccer League and begin. Now, I’ve obtained my [opportunity] to do this, and so I’m simply attempting to take full benefit of it and proceed to compete and execute and simply ball for my teammates.”
Sunday’s recreation towards the Browns will truly be Thomas’ second straight begin.
He began towards the Bengals when Gardner was out with a concussion.
Thomas gave up one spotlight play — a 44-yard landing to Tee Higgins — however performed effectively general.
Higgins and fellow Bengals star Ja’Marr Chase didn’t do this a lot injury to the Jets protection.
“I really feel prefer it was fairly good,” Thomas mentioned of the Bengals recreation. “I can all the time do higher. I really feel like I’m my harshest critic. I simply have to wash up the little, small particulars. Just like the landing with Tee Higgins, I used to be in good place, however I regarded again too early for the ball and he light away. He obtained away from me and scored. Outdoors of that, I used to be like, no person goes to catch one other ball. That’s simply my mindset.”
Although Thomas is comfortable to have the possibility to play, he’s unhappy to see Gardner go.
“I realized lots from him, simply tips on how to watch movie, what he seems to be at, route ideas, how he watches movie on sure days, what does he watch,” Thomas mentioned. “When you could have a man like that, with the stardom that he has, lots of guys are going to sugarcoat it. He gave me all the pieces. He gave the crew all the pieces. Now that he’s gone, it sucks however it’s all the time the next-man-up mindset.”
The Jets elevated OL Kohl Levao and DT Payton Web page from the apply squad for Sunday’s recreation.
