CB Derrick Jones

Many excuses could be made to explain why the Jets pass defense is below average. But second-year pro, Derrick Jones is off the hook because he hasn’t played a single game this year.

Are the Jets redshirting him? Are they punishing him? What’s the reason for not playing a young cornerback when your team is rebuilding? Reports earlier in the year indicated Jones was ready to pack a punchthis year. Maybe now that the Jets have no hope for a playoff run, they can sit their struggling starting cornerbacks, Trumaine Johnson, and Morris Claiborne.

This offseason, the Jets will need to invest in pass rushers. They may also need to invest in new cornerbacks. If Jones can prove himself as a real asset at the position, it could help. Since they have nothing to lose, I think Jones should get more playing time, and hopefully, he succeeds. He did work hard during the offseason to improve, so it would be a shame if he couldn’t display his progression.

In an interview earlier in the season, Jones had this to say to NYJets.com reporters:

I think I got better at off coverage, but at the line of scrimmage, I still have to be better with my hands and my feet, moving my hands and feet together,” he said. “I can get better there. As far as assignments and knowing what I’m supposed to do, I feel like I got a lot better at that.

Jones hasn’t seen action since Week 4 of the preseason. In that game, he picked off Eagles quarterback Joe Callahan.