After each game, we typically highlight three defensive and three offensive players and look in detail at their performance. We’ll start today with the defense:
Dean Machine
This wasn’t part of the plan, but having spent much of the season on the practice squad, undrafted rookie safety Dean Clark found himself forced to handle starter reps on Sunday as he was in the game for the last 31 plays when Tony Adams and Isaiah Oliver both got hurt within the space of a few minutes.
With Andre Cisco already on injured reserve and Oliver joining him on Monday, Clark could be in line to start alongside Malachi Moore on Sunday, depending on Adams’ availability.
So, how did Clark – who had only played five snaps at this level before Sunday – fare in his first significant action?
He only had two tackles, one of which was 25 yards downfield, but this was his best play against the run.
With a safety, it’s often more important that you limit negatives and Clark didn’t fare too badly in that area. However, his awareness was lacking here as the tight end leaked out behind him for a first down.
In addition, he was blocked out of the play downfield when Travis Etienne turned a dump-off pass into a 45-yard touchdown.
Clark had a nice preseason and may have an NFL future. These opportunities at the end of the season will be valuable to him in terms of his confidence as he competes for a role next year.
Building his Brand
Brandon Stephens was a signing that was criticized by plenty of people, who thought the Jets were overpaying a player who had been inconsistent over the years. However, he’s settled nicely into his role this year and played well.
Sunday was actually the first time all season that Stephens has given up more than 60 yards in coverage – after having done so six times last season. However, if you were to consider this Stephens’ worst game of the year, that reflects well on him because it was an up and down performance with plenty of good to counter-act the bad.
Stephens had five tackles, a pass breakup and a forced fumble, as he forced just the Jets’ second defensive turnover of the season with this hit:
In all, Stephens gave up three catches on four targets, including first downs of 21 and 39 yards. The 39-yarder was the second longest catch he’s given up all season, as Brian Thomas got behind him on a double move. He broke up another deep shot later on, though.
Stephens has been an efficient tackler this season but got juked badly on the long Etienne touchdown.
It’s been a very solid season for Stephens, who has improved his reputation around the league and among the Jets fanbase. Hopefully he can finish the season strong and hold down a role next year too.
Destined Tufele
Jay Tufele had a monster performance in the first game of preseason but injuries have limited him to 11 games and one start as a Jet. He has 11 tackles with no tackles for loss and quarterback hits after Sunday’s game.
The Jets’ defensive tackle rotation has changed so much since Tufele got here and he’s on a one-year deal so not necessarily certain to return. Harrison Phillips, Jowon Briggs and Mazi Smith will all be under contract in 2026 with Payton Page likely to return on a futures deal.
New York are getting a look at Tufele and Khalen Saunders as the season winds down with a view to considering whether to bring either or both of them back.
Tufele had this nice run stop in Sunday’s game, although it was his only tackle in 21 reps:
As a pass rusher, he’s been a bit of a non-entity despite showing that preseason promise. He had no pressures in nine reps on Sunday and is averaging less than one pressure every 20 pass rush reps on the year. For the season as a whole, he has had more pass rush attempts than in any previous year, but just six pressures – and that’s a career-high.
Tufele is a functional rotational player but, having been given a chance to prove he can be more than that, has only succeeded in proving that’s all he is.
Three-on-O will follow tomorrow.