The New York Jets may have expected their secondary to handle the trade of Sauce Gardner by reforging a new identity around offseason signing Brandon Stephens, but the secondary's performance against Drake Maye and the rival New England Patriots on Thursday Night Football only made more questions arise.
The Jets' plan for a secondary led by Stephens, rookie Azareye'h Thomas, and slot stud Jarvis Brownlee Jr. has fallen at their first very steep hurdle, as the challenge posed by Stefon Diggs and this Patriots passing attack has proven to be too great.
Not only has the normally terrific Brownlee looked a bit off in the last few games and Thomas suffered a concussion that ruled him out for Thursday Night, but Stephens' brief period as one of Pro Football Focus' darlings of the defensive backfield appears to be over.