Misplaced within the shuffle of the Aaron Rodgers trauma — and the Fresh York Jets’ exciting additional time win — used to be the efficiency of Jordan Whitehead in Past 1. Usually 3 interception video games don’t get omitted, however Whitehead’s efficiency went beneath the radar.
The veteran protection notched a career-high 3 interceptions within the Jets’ 22-16 win over the Buffalo Expenses, kicking in a $250,000 incentive in his oath. Whitehead wanted 3 interceptions in 2023 to earn the $250,000 incentive, according to ESPN, and he achieved that feat in Past 1.
“I was just watching tape from last year,” Whitehead mentioned, referencing endmost season’s win over the Expenses at MetLife Stadium the place he picked off Allen as soon as. “He threw me a second interception late in that game and I dropped it. My whole thing this offseason was doing extra ball drills. I couldn’t have had a better start to this season.”
“I’ve just been working all offseason, teammates have been pushing me. So no surprise,” Whitehead mentioned (by the use of the Fresh York Put up). “Deep balls, just every day at practice. [Safeties coach Marquand Manuel] throws the ball to me, different drills. When I get time off [in practice], special teams drills, I’m catching balls.”
Whitehead turns into the 14th participant ever to file 3 interceptions in a recreation in Past 1, the primary since Sammy Knight in 2001 and simply the fourth participant to perform the feat since 1980.
Whitehead had extra interceptions than he used to be focused in protection, as he wasn’t the main defender on one among his interceptions. He used to be focused two times and had two interceptions on the ones makes an attempt, as Josh Allen completed with a nil.0 passer score concentrated on him.
“He was outstanding. He’s been outstanding,” Jets head lecturer Robert Saleh mentioned then Whitehead’s efficiency. “He was four dropped interceptions away from having an All-Pro year last year. He caught them all today and he’s going to catch a hell of a lot more.
“He’s were given stunning instincts within the again finish. He has stunning instincts within the field. His field is healthier this past, consider it or no longer. His talent to get from pink layout to pink layout. Our self belief in him, he’s an excellent protection. An impressive protection, and he has been.”
The efficiency bonus got here in for Whitehead then one recreation. Extra interceptions are positive to come back in a Jets protection with Sauce Gardner and D.J. Reed at cornerback.