The New York Jets’ defense suffered a setback with the news that Javelin Guidry, a defensive back, injured his knee during a joint practice with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, as per Mike Garafolo’s report.
Guidry, who had spent his college career at Utah during his college days, made his NFL entry in 2020 as an undrafted free agent. He’s since appeared for the Jets in 28 games, recording 48 tackles and causing four forced fumbles over two seasons. While he took to the field for all of the Jets‘ 17 games in 2021, his tenure with the Raiders the previous season saw him play in only four.
After brief stints with the Atlanta Falcons, Las Vegas Raiders, Philadelphia Eagles, and Arizona Cardinals, Guidry rejoined the Jets this offseason. Being plucked off waivers from the Falcons marked his return to New York, where he began his professional journey.
Guidry played a big part of the defensive scheme for the Jets in 2021
The 25-year-old’s talents were being honed for a pivotal role in the Jets’ secondary, particularly as a cornerback. He was lining up to compete for positions alongside the likes of Sauce Gardner, D.J. Reed, Bryce Hall, and Brandin Echols. However, with this recent injury, the Jets might need to revisit their roster decisions. The predicament further extends as the team is on the lookout for strong backups to their starting cornerbacks. The injury has left a gap, but whether the Jets will scout the free agency to fill it remains undetermined.
One of Guidry‘s strengths is his impressive speed. Clocking in at a 4.27 in the 40-yard dash during the 2020 NFL Draft Combine, he was second only to Henry Ruggs.
Time will tell if the Jets decide to take to free agency to fill the void.