Minkah Fitzpatrick cleared the air on Thursday, stating he actually said “Jets beating Jets,” not “Jets being Jets,” to explain the team’s self-inflicted errors. The veteran safety insists the comment never caused a stir inside the locker room, even as the 2-6 team fights to salvage their season. He believes the team knows exactly what he meant and that the media noise is just a distraction from the real goal: winning games.
The New York Post reported that Fitzpatrick spoke on Thursday about the confusion following Sunday’s loss to the Raiders. He emphasized that the context of his words was clear to everyone in the room. “It hasn’t really caused any stir within this locker room,” Fitzpatrick said. “That’s the most important thing. Everyone in this locker room knew what I was talking about.” This focus on internal unity is crucial for a squad that has lost six of its last seven games.
Distraction or Reality Check
The controversy bothered Fitzpatrick more than anyone else because it threatened to take focus away from the field. He noted that talking about words he might have misused does not help a team trying to win. “It more so bothered me in the moment, when we’re a team that’s fighting to win, and we’re talking about stuff that doesn’t really matter,” he explained. The Jets are now set to face a Kansas City Chiefs team that has dropped two straight games after a hot start.
Fitzpatrick is right to push past the noise. The team’s record shows a clear need for better execution, not more drama. He stated, “Our focus and objective now is to win and not focus on should’ve, would’ve, could’ve.” This mindset is the only path forward for a group that hasn’t won since beating the Browns on Oct. 11. The team needs to stop looking back and start looking at the next opponent.
Injury Concerns Loom Large
While the defense tries to stay focused, the offense faces its own hurdles. Wide receiver Garrett Wilson did not practice again on Thursday while remaining in concussion protocol. His absence would force the offense to rely heavily on other players like Adonai Mitchell and Omar Cooper Jr. Offensive coordinator Frank Reich admitted that Wilson is unique and hard to replace, yet the team remains confident in their depth.
“In one respect, you can’t replace Garrett Wilson,” Reich said. “He’s a unique player. But on the other hand, we’re not afraid.” The team will adjust their game plan based on who is available on Sunday. David Bailey returned to full practice on Thursday after dealing with a groin injury, giving the line some stability. The Jets can only hope that things get better from here, because it can’t get much worse.
The road ahead is steep for New York. They enter Sunday’s game in Kansas City looking to snap a losing streak, but that won’t happen unless they fix their penalties and miscues.
