The NFL’s last game of Week 6 is taking place at MetLife Stadium between the New York Jets and the Buffalo Bills. The game is at a very close scene, with 20 points each at the end of the third quarter. However, what caught more attention lately is DJ Reed’s condition.

So what happened to the Jets cornerback? Well, according to the reports, DJ Reed is facing a groin injury and is now doubtful to return. The veteran CB left the game in the third quarter on Monday night football. According to Jets’ beat reporter, Caroline Hendershot, “DJ Reed came out of the injury tent briefly but has gone back in.” Later, the reporter shared the update on X, that “DJ Reed just tried to jog on the sideline but stopped and shook his head at the training staff. Unsure if he will return back in the game or not.”

However, now, the Jets’ official X account has cleared that “CB DJ Reed (groin) is doubtful to return” in the game. Hence, this injury resulted in the second hit to the NY team, as earlier Reed’s teammate, starter Chuck Clark, has already been ruled out of tonight’s game due to an ankle injury.

However, before exiting Monday’s contest, the 5-foot-9 cornerback was at least able to record a solo tackle and a pass defended. And at DJ Reed’s place, there were two cornerbacks available – Brandin Echols and Qwan’tez Stiggers, according to the team’s depth chart. But the franchise decided to go with Echols, who was selected in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the team.

Although that didn’t help the team to win, as they lost 20-23 to the Bills.

The injury hit of Jets’ DJ Reed and Chuck Clark impacted the team on Monday?

Chuck Clark was supposed to be a game-changer for the Jets last season, but an unfortunate ACL injury during organized team activities kept him out the entire year. It was a tough break. Now, fast forward to this season, he was back, fighting hard on the field. And this is clearly evident from the stats he made by Week 6, which was that he already racked up 16 tackles, forced a fumble, and defended a pass. Hence, his return was bringing much-needed stability to the Jets’ defense. However, now that he is out, the team will surely struggle, as recently they lost to the Bills.

Then there’s DJ Reed. His importance for the team is evident from his just four games this season (excluding Week 6). Reed missed Week 2 with a knee injury but is still ranked as the NFL’s top cornerback by Pro Football Focus for players with significant snaps. And it’s not just about the snaps, his 42 yards allowed on six catches from 18 targets, four pass breakups, and an eye-popping 42.4 passer rating when quarterbacks dare to throw his way, all reveal why Reed is the important part of the franchise.

So, in short, it would be safer to say that these two are the heart and soul of the Jets’ defense right now, stepping up when it matters most. But now as they both are out, the Jets could face a significant drop in their defensive performance.

Until then, do check out our latest Think Tank exclusive interview with Doug Sanders. It’s packed with insights on the current NFL season, college football, NIL, and much more.