The New York Jets are making a lineup change.
Gang Green announced that starting safety Tony Adams was “downgraded” to out on Saturday, September 20. He was originally listed as “questionable” with a hip injury. That forced him to miss a day of practice this week, and he was listed as a limited participant in the other two practice sessions.
The Jets will now look to rookie defensive back Malachi Moore to take Adams’ place in the starting lineup. Moore has appeared in the first two games of the season, but hasn’t started. The former Alabama product has participated in 37% of the snaps leading into the Tampa Bay Buccaneers game.
Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic confirmed Moore will take Adams’ place on social media.
The Jets downgraded Tony Adams to OUT.
Which means rookie Malachi Moore will get the start.
— Zack Rosenblatt (@ZackBlatt) September 20, 2025
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
A Potential Blessing in Disguise
The Jets will now be without four starters, five if you count special teams ace Kene Nwangwu in Week 3. That group includes quarterback Justin Fields, wide receiver Josh Reynolds, pass rusher Jermaine Johnson, and now Adams.
Normally, not having your starters available decreases your chances of winning. In Adams’ case, it might actually increase the Jets’ chances.
Adams has struggled mightily this season. According to Pro Football Focus, Adams has a 40.6 overall grade (105th among safeties), 57.7 run defense grade (84th among safeties), and has a 40.8 coverage grade (103rd among safeties).
Moore is a rookie, so you can never be sure what result you’re going to get, but it will be hard to be worse than Adams through the first two weeks of the season.
Reacting to the Jets Full Inactive List Ahead of Week 3
Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic posted the Jets’ full inactives ahead of the Bucs game.
That group includes: quarterback Justin Fields, pass rusher Jermaine Johnson, safety Tony Adams, offensive tackle Esa Pole, defensive tackle Jay Tufele, and wide receiver Josh Reynolds.
“No surprises since all but one of them is injured,” Rosenblatt explained on social media.
Jets inactives:
QB Justin Fields
DE Jermaine Johnson
S Tony Adams
T Esa Pole
DL Jay Tufele
WR Josh ReynoldsNo surprises since all but one of them is injured.
— Zack Rosenblatt (@ZackBlatt) September 21, 2025
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Next Man Up?
“The Jets three positions that you could’ve argued had the most concerning depth entering the season have all been hit by injuries: DE (Jermaine Johnson out), WR (Josh Reynolds out), [and] S (Tony Adams out). Not ideal in Week 3,” Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic posted.
The Jets three positions that you could’ve argued had the most concerning depth entering the season have all been hit by injuries:
DE (Jermaine Johnson out)
WR (Josh Reynolds out)
S (Tony Adams out)Not ideal in Week 3.
— Zack Rosenblatt (@ZackBlatt) September 20, 2025
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
The battle of attrition has begun for the Jets. Insert next man up football cliche.
Jets Elevate a Pair of Rookies
Ahead of the Week 3 road trip, the Jets elevated a double dip of rookies.
Brady Cook will be the QB2 behind Tyrod Taylor. Defensive back Dean Clark will provide some important depth in the secondary after a slew of injuries.
The Jets have elevated QB Brady Cook and S Dean Clark — both rookies — for tomorrow’s game. #Jets
— Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) September 20, 2025
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Jets Rule out Struggling Starter, Promising Rookie Set to Make Debut appeared first on Heavy Sports.